How was she allowed back? NYC school principal who had 'sexual contact' with student in classroom was hired to run Long Island school 15 years later...then abruptly disappeared when old scandal was unearthed

A former Long Island teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with her student was recently hired as a school principal  Jessica Bader, 51, lied about losing her teaching certificate on the applicationShe resigned quickly after being appointed as principal as her 15 -year-old scandal was unearthed 

A former Long Island teacher who resigned after having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a student in 2006 was hired as a school principal decades later after she lied about her teaching certificates.

Jessica Bader, 51, worked as a teacher in the early 2000s – but resigned after her teaching certificates were suspended for having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a student at East Meadow High School in Long Island, where she taught. 

The relationship lasted from 2004 to 2005 – through the student’s junior and senior year, according to legal documents. 

Documents revealed that Bader’s relationship with the male student involved ‘physical, intimate and/or sexual contact, improper communications and/or improper correspondence.’

Bader was never prosecuted criminally because the student was over 18, the legal age of consent and the detective overseeing the case decided that no crime had been committed. 

A former Long Island teacher who resigned after having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a student in 2006 was hired as a school principal decades later after she lied about her teaching certificates

Over 15 years later – Bader applied for a job at Oyster Bay-East Norwich in Long Island, New York. When applying for the OBEN job – Bader left out her stint at East Meadow from the paperwork – and when asked if she had ever had her teaching certificate suspended, she wrongly answered no

Her defense was based around the consensual nature of her relationship with the student, his age and her experience with postpartum depression after recently giving birth to twins. 

According to legal documents, Bader ‘did not seem to find any emotional or psychological harm to the student from her conduct when she was addressing the reasons her interactions with the student was inappropriate.’

Bader submitted her resignation by letter on 2005 and her teaching certificates were suspended for a period of four years. 

Over 15 years later – Bader applied for a job at Oyster Bay-East Norwich in Long Island, New York. 

Somehow Bader had been hired by another school district in between her 2006 scandal and her most recent appointment, she worked at George J. Ryan Middle School in Queens for nine years.

When applying for the OBEN job – Bader left out her stint at East Meadow from the paperwork – and when asked if she had ever had her teaching certificate suspended, she wrongly answered no. 

Bader was originally hired in a teaching position, but was promoted to Principal going into the 2023/2024 school year.  

After her abrupt resignation – an investigation revealed the decade-old scandal and members of the OBEN community are left feeling unsettled

‘With the school year having officially begun, students at James H. Vernon School were greeted by someone new when they arrived for the first day of classes,’ an Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District announcement said.

‘Jessica Bader, the former director of humanities for kindergarten through 12th grade in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District, welcomed the students as the new principal of Vernon.’

‘Bader had previously worked as an assistant principal at George J. Ryan Middle School 216 in Manhattan for nine years and arrived at OBEN last year to take over the role of director of humanities K-12.’ 

‘She’s very friendly and very conscientious and very excited which is great; half this job is having the passion for the kids,’ Laurie Kowalsky, president of OBEN’s BOE, said. 

Just weeks after entering her new role, a statement sent to parents revealed Bader ‘will be away from the building for some time.’

After her abrupt resignation – an investigation revealed the decade-old scandal and members of the OBEN community are left feeling unsettled. 

‘They’re supposed to be trusted, responsible individuals. It doesn’t always work out like that so that means the schools really have to do their homework,’ said parent Gloria McCain.