Ex-Stoughton HS Student Speaks Out About Norton Relationship

STOUGHTON, MA — A former Stoughton High School student who says she had a three-year relationship with a former teacher there has broken her silence. The woman, only identified in court papers as Jane Doe, said the relationship started in 2014 when she was 16 years old and she became involved with the school's STEM program Destination Imagination, for which Timothy Norton was an adviser.

The unnamed student continued to participate in the program the following year, when Norton allegedly began to engage in grooming behavior that included allowing her to keep both personal and school belongings in his classroom, allowing her to rest in the backroom of his classroom during class, engaging in intimate one-on-one conversations which involved home life and non-educational matters while in the presence of other students, texting the victim on a regular basis about non-educational matters, and spending time with the victim both during and outside of school hours, according to court document

In an interview with WFXT, the victim said Norton stole her high school career, noting she didn't have to go to gym during her senior year and spent most of her time in Norton's classroom.

The relationship allegedly became sexual in February 2015, and Stoughton High School Principal Juliette Miller opened an investigation that fall. Ahe alleged victim claims Miller interrogated and shamed her for a half hour as part of the investigation. Neither Norton nor the victim were disciplined for their relationship

Now 19, the ex-student claims that the school did nothing to help her and pressured her to stay silent when questioned. She said she was scared to say anything, alleging that Norton told her if anyone found out about their relationship and he got in trouble, he would kill himself before going to jail.

Following the end of the relationship in 2017, the victim confided to another Stoughton High School teacher about it. The teacher then brought the information to Miller, who notified Norton that he was going to be served with an "intention to dismiss" notice and the information would be passed to the Stoughton Police Department. Norton resigned a short time afterward.

Miller, the town, and Stoughton Public Schools Superintendent Marguerite Rizzi were recently named in a civil lawsuit filed by the victim. The complaint alleges that Miller, Rizzi and other town employees failed to perform their duties as mandated reporters when they had reason to suspect an inappropriate relationship between Norton and the student.

Norton was scheduled to appear in Stoughton District Court in early November for a clerk magistrate hearing, which is held behind closed doors and is used to determine if charges are appropriate. The court has refused to release any information regarding the hearing or case.

Neither Norton nor school officials have publicly commented on the allegations.

Image: File Photo