State: Oyster Bay Principal Had Relationship With High School Student

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has revealed that a former principal of the James H. Vernon School in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District, reportedly had a relationship with a high school student at a previous job.

The former principal, Jessica Bader, had her teaching license was suspended as a result. The age of the student at the time was not immediately clear.

“Information has been received by the New York State Education Department that the certificate holder from approximately 2004 through 2005 engage in inappropriate relationship with a male student which included physical, intimate and/or sexual contact, improper communications, and/or improper correspondence,” the department said in a recently-released report published by News12 Long Island. “The inappropriate relationship continued through those students junior and senior years of high school.”

The relationship took place while Bader was working at the East Meadow School District. When Louis R. DeAngelo, East Meadow’s then-assistant superintendent of schools, was notified of this, he relieved Bader of all contact with students and put her on administrative duties. Bader resigned from East Meadow in 2005.

NYSED’s investigation took place in 2006 and 2007.

Bader testified that she was “under stress due to the birth of twins and the demands of our personal and professional life ,” the report stated. The report also states that she did not deny having a relationship with the student, but testified that the student “was not in her classroom,” and “the fact that he was 18 years of age mitigates her behavior.”