New Rochelle, NY — A teacher at a high school in the South Orange/Maplewood school district was arrested Wednesday at her home and charged with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Nicole Dufault, 34, of Caldwell, New Jersey was accused by the Essex County Prosecutors Office of having oral sex and intercourse with three 15-year old male students both on school property and in her car on multiple occasions, according to authorities.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne was recently hired by the New Rochelle Board of Education away from the South Orange/Maplewood school district.
Most of the incidents occurred on Osborne’s watch as the South Orange/Maplewood Superintendent — during the 2013-14 school year and during summer school programs in 2013 and 2014, according to prosecutors.
Dufault is a language arts teacher at Columbia High School where she has worked for 9 years. She is the mother of two children. The children have been removed from her custody.
South Orange/Maplewood Acting Supt. James G. Memoli and Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron sent a letter to parents:
The CHS administrative team, guidance counselors, student assistance counselors, school social workers, and teachers are actively supporting students and staff impacted by events. If your child is showing signs of stress in reaction to the events or the investigation, please reach out to his or her guidance counselor or a member of the administrative team.
Dufault was being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark on $500,000 bail.