Disgraced Teacher Gets 10-Year Sentence

A New Jersey teacher who slept with her students at a family bagel shop and other locations is heading to prison for 10 years. Julie Rizzitello, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault and won’t be teaching anytime soon.

Grooming and Abuse

Rizzitello met her victims at Wall High School, where she taught English. She developed ‘friendly’ relationships with the teens before escalating to sexual activity. It’s a ridiculous abuse of power, and prosecutors aren’t mincing words. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office says Rizzitello ‘repeatedly leveraged tactics of isolation, manipulation, and control’ to get what she wanted.

The incidents happened in 2017 and 2024, and Rizzitello tried to cover her tracks by asking the victims to delete evidence from their phones. But it was too late. Police arrested her in July 2024, and now she’s facing the music. Rizzitello will also have to register as a sex offender and stay away from her victims for life.

Victims Speak Out

The Wall Township Police Chief is praising the victims for coming forward. It’s not easy to report a crime, especially when it’s someone you trusted. But these teens showed courage, and now Rizzitello is paying the price.