Special ed teacher, 43, who stands accused of sexually assaulting student described herself as a ‘PASSIONATE’ educator on her LinkedIn
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 arrested earlier this week, prosecutors said. announced Saturday.
Her arrest comes after an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Freehold police revealed that she allegedly sexually assaulted a student earlier this year.
It is unclear how many times she allegedly assaulted the student or how old the student was. However, the secondary school only offers lessons to students from groups 6 to 8.
Havemann-Niedrach is now charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangerment of child welfare. She was seen smiling in her arrest photo.
Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 43, was seen smiling in her mugshot after being arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 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 educator” with a “demonstrated history of ‘do-what-it-takes’ work ethic and truly differentiated instruction.”
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 Principal Asia 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 some disturbing 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 contact with a minor,” the director continued, misinterpreting the charges.
She added that the school district “has fully cooperated with the Attorney General’s Office since the beginning of this investigation” and noted that “the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest 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 the student and staff, without going into details.
“We understand that this news can be very distressing,” she concluded, urging all parents to reach out if their child needs support.
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.”