New York, May 27: In a shocking development, the prestigious Dalton School in the US is embroiled in controversy after a former student accused a high school teacher of sexual abuse. The accused teacher, Mara Naaman, has tendered her resignation four days after The Dalton School received a letter regarding the alleged misconduct.

According to the report published by the New York Post, the 50-year-old English teacher allegedly abused the former student between 2020 and 2022. The Dalton School took immediate action by holding an assembly to inform high school students about the ongoing investigation. An email from Principal Jose De Jesus emphasised the importance of verifying the claims and identifying any other potential victims. US Shocker: High School Teacher Has Sex With Student in North Carolina, Arrested.

''We are only providing the name of the teacher so anyone with relevant information can provide such information. Our priority is determining the veracity of these claims and determining whether there are other allegations of abuse from other members of the community," an email from Principal Jesus said. The school filed a police report and hired a specialised firm to conduct an investigation into the allegations of harassment and sexual abuse.

Who is Mara Naaman?

Before joining The Dalton School in 2017, Mara Naaman was a tenured Assistant Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at Williams College in Massachusetts. Her scholarly work has been published in various journals, including the Journal of Arabic Literature. At The Dalton School, Naaman taught English literature to students in grades nine through 12. The prestigious institution charges a hefty tuition fee of USD 61,000 per year. Sex With Student in US: High School Teacher Arrested For Sexually Abusing 15-Year-Old Boy in Arizona.

This is not the first time The Dalton School has faced controversy. In 2018, former headmaster Gardner Dunnan was accused in a federal lawsuit of sexually abusing a 14-year-old student who lived with him and his wife in 1986. The school gained further notoriety during the trial of Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier and convicted sex offender. Epstein worked as a physics and math teacher at The Dalton School in 1973.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 27, 2024 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).