The superintendent of an Ohio school district has resigned after being charged with sexual battery involving high school students.
The Ravenna Record Courier reports that Laura Amero, 35, has quit her job as superintendent of the Windham school district.
Amero has pleaded not guilty to four felony counts and two misdemeanor counts. She is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old high school student in 2017 and of trying to have sexual relations with another student when he was 16 and 17 between 2015 and 2017.
She was principal of Windham Junior/Senior High School when the alleged sexual battery occurred.
The district and the Windham Police Department announced on April 1 that Amero had been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an investigation of professional misconduct. After formal charges were filed, she was suspended without pay.
On April 22, Amero pleaded not guilty to two third-degree felony counts of sexual battery in connection with one of the victims, now 18, two fourth-degree felony counts of attempted sexual battery in connection with a second victim, now 19, and two first-degree misdemeanor counts of intimidation of a crime victim or witness.
The intimidation allegedly took place March 28 after she had become superintendent, according to court records.
Amero became superintendent on Feb. 1, after a short stint as assistant superintendent, a position created specifically for her in order to ease the transition to the superintendency. Her salary was $96,500 a year,
After Amero was placed on leave, the former superintendent, Gregg Isler, came out of retirement to serve as acting superintendent.
