Central Catholic Dean of Students Resigns Amid Misconduct Allegations

By Lisa Redmond
Patch
May 5, 2017

https://patch.com/massachusetts/northandover/central-catholic-dean-students-resigns-amid-misconduct-allegations

The Central Catholic dean of students and basketball coach who was suspended for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a former student has resigned, according a letter sent to the school community on Friday, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

Richard Nault, 45, was placed on adminstrative leave about a week ago amid allegations allegedly he sent inappropriate messages on Snapchat.

Nault has resigned from his position, effective April 26, according to the letter from Central Catholic President Christopher Sullivan.

Nault's resignation comes in the wake of the school firing Andrew Nikonchuk, assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, following allegations that he had drugged and raped a former male student off campus in Lowell in 2006.

"I accepted Mr. Nault's resignation with regret," Sullivan stated in the letter.

"Over recent months, Mr. Nault engaged a recent graduate and alumna of Central Catholic on a social media site, a practice that cannot be tolerated at our school."

Nault graduated from Central Catholic in 1990. He called the school his “second home” and said throughout his time there he “always sought to improve the life of the school and its students, ” the Eagle-Tribune reports.

He wished the school and its students “continued success both academically and athletically.”

He also thanked his family, friends and “supporters” for their “encouragement over the past few weeks.”

“I am now looking forward to focusing on my family and moving on to the next chapter in our lives, ” Nault said.

Screen shots of the messages that Nault allegedly sent have been circulating throughout the school community.

In a Twitter direct message to the former student, obtained by The Sun, he allegedly wrote, "... my bad about last night. I said things that I never should have said and I crossed the line. A big part of that was because I was pretty drunk. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable and I am sorry if I was creepy even a lil bit."

"I am asking to please keep all of this between us," he added. "If this ever got out I would probably lose my job at CC."

Social Studies teacher John Housianitis is also placed on adminstration leave for allegedly posting "compromising photos" of himself online.