N.J. Teacher Relinquishes Licenses After Abuse Accusation

Todd Lewis, 58, agreed in August to relinquish both of his New Jersey elementary teaching certificates after being accused of taping a 9-year-old student’s head to a desk at Lenox Hill/Lenox Elementary School in Pompton Lakes in October 2024. Authorities say Lewis wrapped masking tape around the back of the child’s neck and secured him to the desk for roughly 40–50 minutes; he was arrested in December and initially charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, a charge later reduced to fourth-degree abuse and neglect of children. A teacher’s aide, Sallyann Scala (reported as 67–68), was in the classroom and has been charged with fourth-degree abuse and neglect for allegedly failing to intervene; both employees were placed on administrative leave and released on pretrial monitoring with no contact with minors. The State Board of Examiners required Lewis to return his physical certificates, and Lewis was assigned to a 12-month Pretrial Intervention program; he has not yet faced trial. Had the original second-degree charge stood, Lewis faced a potential 5–10 year prison term, while fourth-degree charges carry substantially lower maximum penalties. The district and prosecutors say the matter remains under review as they continue to work with law enforcement to ensure student safety.