Newly-promoted ‘Teacher of the Year’ is arrested for ‘having sex with student’
A FORMER Teacher of the Year who was recently promoted has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student.
Olivia Marie Smith was busted by cops following a tip-off that claimed she committed the grim offence while employed at Ocean Springs Middle School.
Smith won Teacher of the Year at the Mississippi school in 2022.
She was recently promoted as assistant principal at nearby Oak Park Elementary school, according to the Sun Herald.
Police charged Smith with sexual battery at Jackson County Circuit Court on Thursday.
The offense carries a sentence of up to 30 years behind bars in Mississippi given her position of authority.
Smith was also charged with enticement of a child to meet for sexual purposes, the outlet reported.
Investigators with the Ocean Springs Police Department said they were first informed of the situation by Ocean Springs School District officials on June 20.
The district said it was “deeply saddened” to hear about the charges being filed against one of its former employees.
“After being tipped off about potential inappropriate behaviour taking place involving an employee, OSSD immediately notified OSPD and Mississippi Child Protective Services”, a statement read.
School officials told WLOX: “We understand the gravity of this situation and the concern it may raise in our community.
“We want to reassure parents, students, and staff that we are addressing this matter with seriousness and diligence.
“The safety of our students and staff members remains our highest priority.”
Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor set Smith’s bond at $50,000 for each charge.
It comes after a married teacher from Washington confessed to having sex with a 16-year-old boy in her truck.
Mackenzie Naught, 25, embarked on a twisted “affair” with the high school student from St John Endicott High School.
The mum-of-one crept out of her home and had sex with the boy in the early hours of May 3, according to documents seen by The Spokesman-Review.
Almost a week later, she told her husband what she had done – and he promptly reported her to the police.
Cops arrested the disgraced teacher on May 10 and charged her with child sex crimes.
She initially denied the vile act – but has now pleaded guilty in an effort to slash her jail time down from five years to just 12 months.
The deal will hold the now-fired teacher “accountable for her actions” while it “spares [the victim] the burden of having to testify at trial”, said Whitman County prosecutor Tessa Scholl.
