Lauren Coyle-Mitchell, a 36-year-old New Jersey teacher, admitted on Wednesday, January 16, that she sexually assaulted a 15-year-old student over three years ago.
According to reports, Coyle-Mitchell — a former second-grade teacher in Jersey City — pleaded guilty in Bergen County Superior Court to aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child after she allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old in her Lyndhurst, New Jersey home three years ago.
Court records indicate that as a result of her plea deal, Coyle-Mitchell faces five years in state prison. Additionally, Coyle-Mitchell faces parole supervision for life and will be required to register as a sex offender after her prison sentence.
Furthermore, as a result of her plea bargain, Coyle-Mitchell is also banned from public employment and must forfeit her teaching certificates.
Coyle-Mitchell previously taught at the Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School in Jersey City, New Jersey.
via NJ.com:
Coyle-Mitchell worked at Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School in Jersey City and was accused of performing oral sex on the girl in her Lyndhurst home in 2015. Teachers at the school went to Lyndhurst police after a field trip to Washington, D.C. and claimed the teacher had inappropriate contact with the student.
Coyle-Mitchell was charged in June 2015 with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. A month later, she was arrested again and accused of breaking a no-contact order by trying to call and text the victim.
In May 2018, the Board of Examiners, the state’s teacher licensing agency, suspended Coyle-Mitchell’s certificates, which included teacher of elementary school and teacher of students with disabilities.
As for why there has been such a significant increase in instances of teachers having inappropriate relationships with students, researchers believe that technology is to blame.
According to a report from the Texas Education Association, smartphones make easy for teachers to privately text and talk with students and also make it possible for teachers and students to share explicit images.
SESAME (Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & Exploitation) President Terri Miller echoed that sentiment, stating “before cell phones, we knew who our kids were talking to” but today, “kids have their own phones, they’re taking them to bed, and parents need to watch more.”
Hoffman has been one of many teachers to be charged for inappropriate conduct. Over the course of just a few months, teachers across the United States have been charged, tried, and convicted of various abuse and sex crimes.
The list goes on to include 22-year-old Oklahoma science teacher Hunter Day, 28-year-old teacher Megan Kotarski, 23-year-old history teacher Michelle Schiffer, 29-year-old Alyssia Marie Reddy, special education teacher Jordan Ondish and 28-year-old Samantha Fitzpatrick have all been allegedly carrying on inappropriate relationships with their students.
Most recently, teachers such as 29-year-old Haylie Smart, 25-year-old Alaina Ferguson, 26-year-old Amy Nowaczyk, and 32-year-old Laura Bucy were arrested and charged for similar crimes.
That is all the information available at this time. This article will be updated with new and relevant information should it become available.