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Leonia NJ, a bombshell lawsuit filed in 2025 accuses former Leonia High School drama teacher James Avidon of sexually assaulting a female student starting in 1998, with the Bergen County school board facing heat for alleged negligence. The unnamed plaintiff claims Avidon groomed her from middle school, escalating to “invasive physical conduct” during private lessons. This isn’t Leonia’s first scandal—similar accusations against another teacher surfaced earlier this year. Here’s the shocking story shaking NJ and what it means for school accountability in 2025!
The Allegations: A Teacher’s Betrayal at Leonia High
The lawsuit, filed by an unnamed former student, alleges that James Avidon, a former drama teacher at Leonia High School, began grooming her in 1993 during a summer drama program when she was in middle school. By 1998, Avidon allegedly escalated to sexual abuse during private acting lessons, engaging in kissing, “invasive physical conduct,” and emotional manipulation without parental consent. The plaintiff claims Avidon had her keep a journal of their interactions and would pull her from classes for abusive encounters in his office or classroom, even driving her home at times.
Attorney Bruce Nagel, representing the plaintiff, declared, “It’s time that the teacher and the school take responsibility for this sexual abuse of a vulnerable student.” The lawsuit accuses the Leonia Board of Education of negligence, claiming they should have known about Avidon’s predatory behavior.
A Pattern of Failure: Leonia’s Troubled History
This isn’t Leonia’s first brush with abuse allegations. In June 2025, four men accused former teacher John Anagnosti of sexual abuse in the 1970s, with one victim, Mike Gonzales, demanding accountability from the Leonia Board of Education. Anagnosti was convicted in 1982 for molesting a 9-year-old, yet the district’s response has been criticized as inadequate. The new lawsuit against Avidon alleges a similar failure, with the plaintiff confiding in another alleged victim and later a former guidance counselor about the abuse at age 28.
The pattern raises alarms about systemic oversight failures in Leonia schools, fueling calls for stronger protections and accountability in Bergen County’s education system.
Why It Matters: NJ Schools Under Fire
The Avidon lawsuit exposes a dark underbelly in NJ’s education system, where allegations of teacher misconduct and administrative negligence are piling up. The plaintiff’s claims of assault, battery, and intentional emotional distress highlight the lasting trauma of abuse, while the school board’s alleged inaction points to broader failures. Bergen County, a key player in NJ politics, faces scrutiny as residents demand safer schools and transparency.
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Leonia HS looks like a prison.
I used to call it the “Learning Factory”.
I always thought that