A science teacher in Georgia was arrested on Friday, suspected of sexually assaulting a student in a school closet.
Maris Nichols, 25, who teaches biology at Alexander High School in Douglasville, was taken into custody after allegations surfaced that she had inappropriate relations with a student she was supervising, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Reports suggest that Nichols engaged in sexual acts with the same student at least twice over a two-week period, based on details from an arrest warrant.
The first alleged incident reportedly took place on April 23 in a closet between classrooms, followed by another incident in a Hummer parked at a residence in Douglasville. The owner of the vehicle and the residence are currently unknown.
Nichols’ profile has since been removed from the school’s website.
In a letter to parents, the Douglas County School System emphasized their commitment to student safety and condemned the alleged behavior as a serious breach of professional standards. Following the revelations, an investigation was initiated, and Nichols was placed on administrative leave, though the district did not confirm her identity at that time.
A request for information regarding Nichols’ employment status has been made by the media.
She joined Alexander High School in April 2023 as the football operations manager and became a biology teacher a month later, juggling both roles.
Nichols earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education from Liberty University, a private evangelical institution known for its policies that discourage sexual activity outside of marriage.
She faces two counts of sexual assault by someone in a position of authority and is currently in Douglas County Jail with a bail set at $40,000.
