Monica Grady, New Hope Middle School Miss. teacher arrested over child grooming following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with student. Educator is alleged to have provided minor students with alcohol and tobacco products. Arrest comes 3 years after ‘prized’ educator winning a scholarship to pursue an education doctorate.
Mississippi authorities have arrested a former teacher at New Hope Middle School, and charged her with ‘child grooming’ after investigating allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Monica Nunn Grady, 41, a mathematics teacher at New Hope Middle School was terminated from her employment on Wednesday after meeting with school administrators over allegations she had provided minor students with alcohol and tobacco products. A day after Lowndes County School District ending the educator’s employment contract, investigators from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Grady’s residence.
Accusations of child grooming and inappropriate relationship with minor student
Grady was taken into custody without incident and booked on charges of ‘child grooming’ following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a ‘minor’ student according to a Facebook release from the Lowndes County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office.
Stated the release: ‘Definition: Child grooming is defined in Section 97-5-32, Mississippi Code of 1972, established by 2025, House Bill 1308, as a pattern of conduct or a series of messages that a reasonable adult would recognize as an attempt to lure, persuade, or coerce a child under 16 into an inappropriate, sexualized, or illegal relationship.’
Grady is accused of providing alcohol and tobacco products to multiple students and engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
Further stated the release, ‘This case remains under investigation. Additional charges may be forthcoming as evidence is reviewed. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with school officials and the District Attorney’s Office.’
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Outraged parents respond, middle school teacher previously awarded scholarship for doctorate in education
Posted an outraged parent on Facebook: ‘Why weren’t the parents of students at New Hope Middle School notified about a teacher being arrested for sexual assault? I had to find out from kids that Mrs. Monica Grady has been sending nudes, buying weed, buying vapes, and sexually assaulting young boys (middle schoolers and high schoolers). Are you kidding me this is definitely an emergency parents should have been informed about.’
The educator’s arrest comes three years after Monica Grady being awarded a scholarship for a doctorate in 2023. According to a previous report from The Columbus Dispatch, Grady received a $1,000 graduate scholarship from the Mississippi Professional Educators, of which she has been a member since 2013.
Stated the outlet at the time, ‘Grady, a national board certified teacher and resident of Columbus, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi University for Women, her Master of Science degree from Mississippi State University and her specialist degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in education, curriculum and instruction at Delta State University.’
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information related to the case to reach out to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
