MENOMONEE FALLS -- Menomonee Falls district officials are speaking out about a teacher charged with having sex with a student in her classroom.
April Novak, a reading specialist at Menomonee Falls High School, is charged with 12 counts of sexual assault of a student by school staff.
On Wednesday, district superintendent Pat Greco held a news conference and vowed to restore trust between teachers, students, their parents and the greater community.
"One thing the students should understand is in a situation like this, there's an adult involved in making decisions that violated significant trust," Greco said. "We have a range of people and students that want to come forward to share vulnerable situations within their life with guidance counselors and staff that meet students with special needs."
Greco insisted her staff is well trained and said Novak's alleged behavior is an isolated incident.
"This is not a staff development need. This is illegal behavior."
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In the criminal complaint, Novak allegedly told police that nothing was forced on either end between her and the 16-year-old student, and that they have very strong feelings for each other.
Records show during the fourth and eighth hour of the school day, the student and Novak "engaged in sexual intercourse on the couch in her classroom."
Novak was placed on leave on Dec. 11 when the district first became aware of a possible inappropriate relationship between her and the student. Novak resigned during the school district’s investigation and no longer works for the district.
If convicted of the charges, Novak could face decades in prison.
