A former special education teacher in the Pinelands Regional School District has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging that district staff members participated in “pedophile parties” and that administrators retaliated against her after she reported misconduct involving a paraprofessional and an underage female student, as reported by The New York Post.
The lawsuit, filed in Ocean County, resurfaced this week after being circulated by multiple news outlets.
THE PINELANDS REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE DISBANDED AS PEDOPHILES RUN WILD WITH PEDOPHILE PARTIES!! EVER SINGLE EMPLOYEE THAT TOOK PART IN THAT SHOULD BE SENT TO PRISON IF NOT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT!! https://t.co/I9kHwCMHMs
— CasperOtto (@BRRRCO) December 3, 2025
According to the complaint, the paraprofessional and several other staff members held more than one “dress as your favorite pedophile” party around August 2023.
The lawsuit states that while details of the gatherings were not included, the paraprofessional’s involvement reflected an “egregious glorification of pedophiles,” according to plaintiff Melissa Pomphrey, who worked as a special education teacher in the district.
Pomphrey alleged in the filing that the paraprofessional was himself a pedophile and that he “would frequently invite this underage student to hang out with him after school.”
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The student was described as a junior at the high school. The lawsuit further states that the paraprofessional endangered the female student by bringing her around an 18-year-old autistic male student in a special needs classroom who could be “sexually violent toward females.”
Pomphrey said she reported the alleged parties, the suspected inappropriate relationship between the paraprofessional and the student, and broader safety concerns to district administrators.
The lawsuit claims administrators conducted what she described as a “sham” investigation before reassigning her from her high school classroom to a middle school role, which she said was widely regarded within the district as a demotion. The paraprofessional remained employed.
“Therefore, it was abundantly clear that Defendants [Pinelands’ administrators] assigned Plaintiff (Pomphrey) this classroom in pure retaliation for her complaints of the unlawful, unsafe, and neglectful environment fostered by Defendants,” the lawsuit states.
Following the reassignment, Pomphrey said she developed severe anxiety and depression.
The filing says she spent the period between May and September 2024 experiencing anxiety, depression, nausea, and uncontrollable vomiting due to stress.
According to the lawsuit, Pomphrey continued submitting complaints to administrators, but the district “continued to sweep the same under the rug in an effort to force Plaintiff out of her position.”
By November 2024, her symptoms had intensified to the point where both her doctor and psychiatrist placed her on disability leave, which she took unpaid.
While she was on medical leave, she said she was informed her contract would not be renewed. Her lawsuit alleges this decision constituted discrimination based on her medical condition and retaliation for her repeated complaints.
Pomphrey is seeking reinstatement, back pay, legal fees, and court-ordered anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation training for district officials.
The lawsuit, filed in late August, names High School Principal Troy Henderson, Director of Special Services Marisa Elwood, and special education teacher Scott Beaton, in addition to the district.
The Pinelands Regional School District has denied the claims in court filings. Superintendent Melissa A. McCooley previously told NJ.com that the district would not “dignify the baseless lawsuit.”
“The Pinelands Regional School District takes all matters involving the safety and well-being of our students with the utmost seriousness. However, we will not dignify this baseless lawsuit with a response,” McCooley said.
A trial date has not been set.
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