Former Delran Teacher Showed Image Of Nude Woman To Art Class: Prosecutor

A former art teacher in Delran High School had his teaching certificate revoked after he admitted to showing an image of a naked woman to his art class, Burlington County Prosecutor Joel Bewley confirmed Wednesday morning.

James Cottingham pleaded guilty to harassment-communication in a manner to cause alarm on Aug. 9. Cottingham inadvertently showed the image to his class, Bewley said.

This happened after Delran High School officials notified the police department that a student reported that Cottingham had projected an image of a naked woman onto a board during class on April 8, Bewley said.
Police then confiscated two computers and three external storage devices owned by the Delran Board of Education and used by Cottingham, who was suspended with pay by the district.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit discovered searches of adult pornography on one of the computers.

Police issued an arrest warrant. Cottingham surrendered to Delran Police on May 31.

Following his guilty plea, Cottingham was sentenced to one year of probation, fined and ordered to relinquish his teaching certificate.

Under the agreement, he may never reapply to the New Jersey State Board of Examiners for
certification for employment in the public schools in the state.