Special education teacher, 43, accused of sexually assaulting a student, described herself on her LinkedIn as a ‘PASSIONATE’ teacher
A special education teacher who describes herself online as a “passionate” educator has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing one of her students.
Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 43, a special education teacher at Freehold Intermediate School in New Jersey, was taken into custody earlier this week, prosecutors say announced on Saturday.
Her arrest follows an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Freehold Police Department that revealed she sexually assaulted a student earlier this year.
It is unclear how many times she sexually abused the student or how old the student may have been, though the high school only teaches sixth through eighth grades.
Havemann-Niedrach now faces both first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree child welfare endangerment, and was seen smiling in her mugshot.
Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 43, was seen smiling in her arrest photo after she was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a female student
Her LinkedIn profile describes her as a ‘passionate, results-oriented and sincere teacher’
She has described herself on her Linkedin profile as a ‘passionate, results-oriented and sincere teacher’ with a ‘demonstrable history of a ‘do-what-needs’ work ethic and truly differentiated teaching.’
She has worked for the Freehold Borough School District since 2022 and previously held positions at other schools in New Jersey and in Philadelphia, the profile shows.
But in a message to parents on Friday, Freehold Borough School District Superintendent Michael referred to Havemann-Niedrach as a “former staff member” when announcing her arrest.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have to share this sad news with you,” Michael wrote in the email, obtained by the Asbury Park Press.
“We have learned that a former staff member has been arrested for aggravated sexual assault in the third degree and inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor,” the chief continued, misrepresenting the allegations.
She added that the school district has “cooperated fully with the District Attorney’s Office since the beginning of this investigation,” noting that “the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority.”
Havemann-Niedrach is now being held without bail pending her first court appearance
Since 2022, she has worked as a special education teacher at the Freehold Borough School District, but an email referred to her as a “former staff member.”
Michael went on to say that the school district has taken “immediate steps to ensure the” protection of students and staff, without going into details.
“We understand that this news may be very upsetting,” she concluded, urging all parents to reach out if their child needs help.
Havemann-Niedrach is now being held without bail in the Monmouth County Jail pending her initial court appearance and the hearing to determine whether she will be held pending trial.
The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 3.
Meanwhile, Havemann-Niedrach’s attorney, Thomas Huth, told the Asbury Park Press that she “maintains her innocence at this time.”
