Alyssa Perry, a 35-year-old teacher and cheerleading coach at Morris Knolls High School, was arrested on June 6, 2025, and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
The charges ignited from an investigation initiated in March 2025, when a school administrator reported allegations of inappropriate behavior by Perry to the Denville Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities determined that Perry, a resident of Rockaway Township, allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old student on two occasions between February and March 2025 at her home.
Reportedly, Perry taught and tutored the victim, who is currently enrolled at Morris Knolls High School.
Perry, who has been employed at Morris Knolls since 2018, holds a degree in mathematics from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in math education.
In addition to her role as a math teacher, she served as the cheerleading coach. She has been suspended from her position pending the outcome of the investigation.
Following her arrest, Perry was released under pre-trial supervision with strict conditions, including Level 3 monitoring, no contact with the victim, the school, or any students.
She is scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata on July 14, 2025.
Morris Hills Regional District Superintendent Nicholas Norcia addressed the incident in a letter to parents, withholding Perry’s name but confirming that the district took immediate administrative action by placing the teacher on leave, saying:
We remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students.
Meanwhile, the investigation, conducted by the Rockaway Township Police Department, Denville Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit, remains ongoing.
Alyssa Perry’s Late Father, Jim Perry, Was A Former Hardwick Township Mayor!
Alyssa Perry is the daughter of the late James J. Perry, a prominent figure in New Jersey politics known for his long tenure as a Hardwick Township Committee member and former mayor.
James J. Perry, often referred to as Jim Perry, was a significant figure in Hardwick Township.
Perry’s political career began in 2000 when he was appointed by then-Governor Christie Whitman to fill a vacancy on the Hardwick Township Committee at the age of 36.
A Republican, Jim Perry served on the committee for over two decades, including multiple terms as mayor, earning a reputation as a dedicated public servant.
Perry was known for coining the term “Hardwickian,” reflecting his pride in representing the small, rural community and welcoming newcomers.
Beyond local governance, Perry rose to statewide prominence as a leader in the New Jersey League of Municipalities (NJLM), a nonpartisan organization representing the state’s 564 municipal governments.
He served as an officer, vice president, and eventually president of the NJLM, with his presidency noted in 2019.
Perry was a strong leader who supported political candidates like Frank Pallotta in 2020, showing his influence in local politics.
But his most meaningful work came from a deeply personal place, i.e., his fight against the opioid crisis after losing his son, Jesse, to addiction in 2015.
He channeled his grief into advocacy, sharing his family’s story at events like New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s 2020 roundtable on opioid usage at the Family Guidance Center of Warren County.
Perry’s efforts even reached the White House, where he pushed for laws to expand access to treatment. Warren County Commissioner James Kern III recognized Perry’s impact, saying his advocacy saved lives.
Jim Perry passed away on August 18, 2023, at the age of 60, at his home in Florida.
Perry’s career had its share of controversy; in 2009, the Observer called him “Moron of the Day” after he reportedly threatened a Blairstown police officer over a parking ticket.
He was accused of acting aggressively and claiming he had connections with local officials. Court records show that Perry used strong language during the incident.
