Woodbridge Teacher Charged After Accused Of Giving Fake Mask Note

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A Woodbridge public school teacher has been criminally charged with forgery and tampering with public records after police say she handed in a fake doctor's note stating why she did not have to wear a mask in school.

The teacher is Gayle Hadley, 53, of Toms River, who teaches in the Woodbridge school district.

She was taken into police custody last Thursday, and charged with one count of fourth-degree uttering and one count of fourth-degree falsifying medical records, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner.

"Following concerns raised by the district’s administration, an investigation by Detective Andrew Kondracki of the Woodbridge Police Department determined that on September 8, Hadley, who was employed as a teacher for the Woodbridge Public School District, submitted a forged doctor’s letter to the district in which she claimed a fictitious medical exemption from the district’s mask policy," read a release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office announcing her arrest.

The state teachers' union, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is providing Hadley with a free lawyer, said NJEA spokeswoman Dawn Hiltner. That's all she would say on the matter, citing that it is a criminal case.

"As much as I would like to discuss this matter with you, we are prohibited from sharing details of sensitive personnel matters," said Woodbridge schools superintendent Dr. Joe Massimino, when asked about Hadley's arrest.

Gov. Murphy's Executive Order 251 requires that anyone inside a New Jersey school building wear a mask at all times.

All New Jersey schoolteachers have until Oct. 18 to show proof they have been vaccinated, or consent to being tested for coronavirus up to twice weekly.

The president of the New Brunswick school board confirmed the Middlesex County prosecutor admonished him in a "stern" written warning in late August for not wearing a mask at a BOE meeting. The letter was signed by the county prosecutor and cc'd acting NJ Attorney General Andrew Bruck, as well as State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan, among others.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's office declined to comment further on Hadley's arrest.

Gov. Murphy's office and the office of AG Bruck did not immediately respond to further questions about Hadley's arrest.

The investigation is active. Anyone with information is asked to call Kondracki at 732-643-7700.

Prior: NJ Prosecutor Reprimands BOE President For Not Wearing Mask (Sept. 21)

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