Married NYC teacher — who once posted about ‘helping kids understand consent’ — charged with raping 14-year-old student
A Queens middle school teacher was arrested Tuesday for allegedly raping a 14-year-old student, police said — after once posting on social media about “helping kids understand consent.”
Melissa Rockensies, a married 33-year-old teacher at Corona Arts and Sciences Academy, was arrested over the disturbing allegations around 10:30 a.m. in Queens, according to cops.
It wasn’t clear whether the alleged rape happened on or off campus.
Rockensies was charged with rape, criminal sexual act and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years old, the NYPD said.
Ironically, an October 2021 post shared on a Facebook page that appears to belong to Rockensies highlighted how to help “kids understand consent.”
Part of the PSA infographic advised adults to ask if a child would like to give a relative a hug, rather than demanding that they hug their relative.
It also advised parents to make it clear to their children that they should not keep secrets from their family.
A DOE spokesperson reportedly said Rockensies, who earned about $85,000 last year, was reassigned from the school pending the outcome of her case.
“This alleged behavior is extremely concerning and wholly unacceptable,” the spokesperson said in a statement to local outlet QNS, adding that if Rockensies is convicted, the DOE will move to have her terminated.
