Hamden Private School Sued After Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student

HAMDEN, CT — A former student at the private Hamden Hall Country Day School has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually abused by a teacher.

The plaintiff, identified only as “Jane Doe,” and her parents filed the civil action in Superior Court in New Haven in May.

The litigation names The Hamden Hall School Inc., doing business as Hamden Hall Country Day School, as the defendant.

According to the lawsuit, Doe was abused by a former teacher at the school, Stephen A. Listro.

Hamden police arrested Listro in December 2025, charging him with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of risk of injury to a minor. He entered a “not guilty” plea, and he is next due in court Oct 7.

The lawsuit, filed by Attorney Michael Kennedy of New Haven, claims Listro “engaged in a pattern of grooming behavior” toward Doe starting in the spring of 2024 and continuing through March 2025.

It claims he exchanged text messages and emails with Doe and gave her personal gifts, including earrings. It also claims he wrote personal notes and cards “of an intimate nature.” According to the lawsuit, Listro spent time alone with the plaintiff in his classroom, in hallways and at lunch, “isolating the plaintiff from her peers and family.”

According to the lawsuit, Listro later engaged in “repeated inappropriate sexual contact with the plaintiff,” including kissing, fondling, groping, sexual acts, and encouraging the plaintiff to send him sexual photographs and text messages.

It claims the contact happened in Listro’s classroom, on campus, in school hallways, in the library and in his personal vehicle.

The lawsuit claims school staff observed unusual conduct, yet failed to report it to authorities or take any corrective action despite its duty to report suspected child abuse.

The lawsuit claims Hamden Hall failed to properly supervise the teacher, and failed to take reasonable steps to protect Doe from harm. It claims Listro was permitted to take Doe off school grounds without supervision or oversight. The lawsuit claims the school was negligent and careless.

According to the lawsuit, Doe suffered humiliation, emotional distress, anger, confusion, interference with personal relationships and education, feelings of vulnerability and mistrust, physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Dawn A. Miceli, director of advancement and communications for Hamden Hall Country Day School, said when the matter first became known during the 2024-2025 school year, the school took immediate action.

According to Miceli, the school reported the matter to the state Department of Children and Families, placed the former employee on administrative leave, began an internal investigation, cooperated fully with local authorities, and subsequently terminated Listro’s employment.

Head of School Bob Izzo said in a news release it is “imperative” that the school maintain confidentiality regarding student matters. However, he stressed that the administration took immediate action and followed school protocols.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” Izzo said.

Hamden Hall continually reviews and updates its safety and emergency policies and procedures to best safeguard its students, school officials said.