A 15-year old high school student was sexually assaulted by a female teacher who formerly taught second grade at a Jersey City elementary school. The incident occurred at the teacher’s residence over three years ago, and she was charged in June of 2015.
The teacher, who pled guilty to several charges, is facing penalties, including endangering a child’s welfare in the second degree and aggravated sexual assault in the first degree.
According to sources, the teacher performed oral sex on the teenager. When other teachers at the school learned what happened, they reported it to the Lyndhurst, NJ police department. The former teacher was arrested and a no-contact order was also issued.
After several weeks, she was arrested again for breaking that order; she allegedly attempted to call and text the student, using a blocked phone number.
Charges and More
In court, the teacher was offered a plea bargain. If convicted, she could go to jail for five years and be on parole for the remainder of her life. In addition, she will lose all teaching certificates and cannot work in public employment ever again.
Sentencing is scheduled for August second. In the meantime, her teaching certificates have been suspended and she must register as a sex offender.
When Students Sexually Harass Other Students
Teachers are not the only ones that harass students. Frequently, these situations are instigated by peers, and many complaints are ignored by school administrations.
In 1999, parents took a case to the U.S. Supreme Court because their daughter’s claims of sexual harassment were not being addressed by the school. The student told her parents and school officials about the harassment, but nothing was done by the school for months. Even then, what was done was insufficient.
The Court ruled that if the harassment adversely affected the child’s schoolwork or made them fear being at school, that child was protected under Title IX.
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a statute enforced by The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Its aim is to guard students from sex-based discrimination at school. It applies to certain public schools, private schools, charter schools, museums, and libraries.
The OCR researches, investigates, and resolves complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination. It also carries out proactive compliance reviews, which analyze systems and procedures; they also provide technical assistance and guidance.
Protecting Students from Harassment
Students may not even realize they are being abused, or they could be afraid to tell someone. If a student becomes withdrawn, aggressive, or exhibits unusual behavior, these could be signs. Parents and caregivers should broach the subject with them gently.
Students should be asked if they have reached out to any school administration personnel about the issue. Parents should also obtain the school sexual harassment policy. This will indicate the staff member that should be contacted about the harassment.
If there is no resolution, parents can contact the principal. A written document of the events, the offender’s name, and a description of how the harassment is affecting the student should be presented. School superintendents, board members, and local government members can also be involved.
Middletown Sexual Harassment Lawyers at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. Represent Victims of Sexual Harassment
We provide compassionate, skillful legal guidance for victims of sexual harassment in numerous fields. Call a Middletown sexual harassment lawyer at McOmber McOmber & Luber by calling our Red Bank office at 732-842-6500, our Marlton office at 856-985-9800, our Newark office at 973-878-9040, or by contacting us at 888-396-0736 or online. We represent clients throughout New Jersey.