Science teacher had sex with teen in classroom closet: Cops

The Georgia teacher is one of three in justice system crosshairs

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Published May 11, 2026  •  Last updated 20 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Maris Nichols. LINKEDIN

A Georgia biology teacher is accused of having sex with a teen in a classroom closet.

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Cops say Maris Nichols, a 25-year-old biology teacher at Alexander High School in Douglasville, was arrested Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting one of her students.

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Investigators claim Nichols had sexual intercourse with the same student on at least two separate occasions in just two weeks, according to arrest warrants obtained by 11Alive. The student’s age and gender were not released.

According to reports, the teacher graduated from the noted evangelical Christian school Liberty University. At the straight-laced institution, sexual antics are forbidden.

Students are “expected to abstain from sexual activity outside of a biblically ordained marriage,” the university boasts.

What the police say

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the first sexual assault took place in a closet between two classrooms on April 22. The second encounter occurred with the same boy inside a Hummer parked in a driveway of a residential home.

“Upon learning of the alleged misconduct, the district immediately launched an investigation. Student safety is the district’s highest priority. The alleged behavior is unacceptable and violates the professional standards all employees are required to uphold,” the Douglas County School System said in a letter to parents.

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For extracurricular activities, Nichols doubled as an operations manager for the high school football team.

The biology teacher has been charged with two counts of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority. She is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $40,000 bond.

N.C. guidance counsellor charged

Meanwhile, North Carolina high school guidance counsellor and girls basketball coach Amber Elizabeth Walker, 39, has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student on campus. Cops say she had sex with the teen on school property last Wednesday.

Detectives said they “quickly developed evidence confirming the allegation.”

Amber Elizabeth Walker

Walker is charged with two felony counts of sex act with a student. It was not immediately clear how old the student was, or what evidence had been obtained.

With a touch of irony, two months ago Asheboro City Schools urged college-bound students to contact Walker for scholarship opportunities. After being arrested, she was fired.

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“Asheboro City Schools is aware that a former employee of the district has been taken into custody in connection with alleged inappropriate activity,” a spokesperson for the district said.

“This matter is currently being handled through the criminal justice system. Due to state and federal privacy laws, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”

Teacher sentenced in Pennsylvania

Former teacher Michelle Mercogliano.

In Pennsylvania, former teacher Michelle Mercogliano, 36, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for sexually abusing one of her students. She pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse with a student and one count each of corruption of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor in the Chester County Court.

Mercogliano “admitted that she had sex with, and provided marijuana to, a high school student.”

She “began to have a sexual relationship with the 16-year-old victim” in February 2025, also providing him with marijuana. She was initially charged with 40 counts of institutional sexual assault, 20 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count each of corruption of minors, criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver.

As part of her deal, 59 of those counts were dropped.

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