Ex-Oyster Bay Principal Had Sexual Relationship With Student: Reports

OYSTER BAY, NY — The former principal of James H. Vernon School in Oyster Bay has been accused of having an "inappropriate relationship with a male student" while previously working as a teacher in another school district, according to a state report obtained by multiple outlets.

According to the report — shared in full by both News12 and Newsday — Jessica Bader, now 51, was in a relationship with the student, then 18, while she was a teacher in the East Meadow School District in 2004 and 2005.

The New York State Education Department launched an investigation into Bader's character, during which she "clearly admitted that she engaged in inappropriate contact with a male student," according to News12.

Bader's teaching certificate was suspended for four years beginning in 2007, though she never faced any criminal charges because the student was 18 years old at the time, Newsday reported.

When asked on her application for the James H. Vernon School principal position whether any of her professional certificates were ever suspended, Bader checked "no," according to Newsday.

Bader resigned from James H. Vernon last October, a departure which Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District's superintendent Francesco Ianni told Newsday at the time had "nothing to do with any issue with our students or staff."

In the weeks leading up to Bader's resignation, Ianni said that she would be "away from the building for some time," according to Newsday.

News12 reported that Bader, who started with the district in 2022 as the director of humanities for grades K-12, was "removed from her post" prior to her resignation.

Ianni said at the October meeting during which Bader's resignation was approved by the school board that the district relies on "the applicant's truthfulness in providing the required information for the posted position," Newsday reported.

Patch reached out to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District for comment.