Ex-Windham superintendent pleads guilty to sexual battery

The former Windham schools superintendent faces up to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of sexual battery and one count of sexual imposition involving teenage students.

Laura Amero, 35, of Austintown, was accused of sexually assaulting at least two male teens while she was the principal at Windham High School in 2017.

Amero didn’t speak during Monday’s hearing other than to acknowledge Common Pleas Court Judge Laurie Pittman’s questions during her guilty plea.

Assistant Portage County Prosecutor Connie Lewandowski noted that some of victims’ family members were in court on Monday and approved the plea deal.

Amero is out of jail on a $36,000 bond and has surrendered her passport.

Sentencing in the case hasn’t been scheduled. Pittman ordered a pre-sentence investigation and asked for written statements from the victims. In addition to the prison time, she also faces 180 days in jail and a $21,000 fine.

Amero was suspended from her job after she was arrested in April and resigned in June. She became the district's superintendent Feb. 1.

Amero previously taught English in Mahoning County and was a curriculum supervisor for Mahoning County Educational Services before joining Windham in 2015 as the junior/senior high school principal.

She is represented by Akron attorney Joseph Gorman.

Aireane Curtis was hired to replace Amero as Windham superintendent. She is under the same contract as Amero, who was paid $96,500 per year.

Contact reporter Eileen McClory at 330-298-1128, emcclory@recordpub.com or @Eileen_McClory.