American teacher of NYC arrested for sexually abusing 14-year-old student

Melissa Rockensies, 33, was charged with rape, criminal sexual act and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years old.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A Queens middle school teacher was arrested Tuesday for allegedly raping a 14-year-old student, police said — after once posting on social media about “helping kids understand consent.”

Melissa Rockensies, a married 33-year-old teacher at Corona Arts and Sciences Academy, was arrested over the disturbing allegations around 10:30 a.m. in Queens, according to cops.

It wasn’t clear whether the alleged rape happened on or off campus.

Rockensies was charged with rape, criminal sexual act and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years old, the NYPD said.

Ironically, an October 2021 post shared on a Facebook page that appears to belong to Rockensies highlighted how to help “kids understand consent.”

Part of the PSA infographic advised adults to ask if a child would like to give a relative a hug, rather than demanding that they hug their relative.

It also advised parents to make it clear to their children that they should not keep secrets from their family.  

A DOE spokesperson reportedly said Rockensies, who earned about $85,000 last year, was reassigned from the school pending the outcome of her case.

“This alleged behavior is extremely concerning and wholly unacceptable,” the spokesperson said in a statement to local outlet QNS, adding that if Rockensies is convicted, the DOE will move to have her terminated.