As expected, a Verona High School alumna who once was named the “Essex County Teacher of the Year” has received a three-year suspended sentence with lifelong parole supervision for having sex with one of her students. Erica DePalo, now a Montclair resident, pleaded guilty in February to third degree endangering the welfare of the 15 year-old male student. DePalo, who apologized in court on Monday, will also be registered as a sex offender under Megan’s Law. She must also forfeit her teaching license and must permanently forgo seeking work as a public employee.
