"I disappointed you all:" Former teacher, convicted of sexually assaulting student, sentenced to two years in prison

A former Menomonee Falls teacher will spend the next 2 years behind bars for sexually assaulting a student.

April Novak was sentenced Thursday for the crime, which happened in the fall of 2015.

According to investigators, another staff member saw Novak in an embrace with a 16-year-old student and reported the activity. Novak later admitted to repeated sexual activity with the boy on a couch in her classroom. 

Novak spoke for about 3 minutes Thursday, apologizing for her actions. 

    "I was the teacher, the adult, and I made a gross lapse in judgement," she said. "To my family and my children, I'm sorry. I disappointed you all, I regret it."

The judge sentenced her to two years in prison on all three counts but she will serve them at the same time.

A grandmother of the victim called the sentence a fair punishment. 

    "I think it's somewhat appropriate, 3 years would have been better, but I think she did deserve to serve time for what she did."

That grandmother, who we are not identifying out of respect for the victim, said he has since moved out of state. 

    "There's still the hurt, and I can tell he's withdrawn, but they're doing better where they're located now," she said. "It definitely affected him negatively."

Novak will never be allowed to work at a school again, and must register as a sex offender.

She says she has learned from her actions. 

     "As a mother of two young boys, I am repulsed by my conduct. School is a place to learn and grow, and I am deeply sorry," she said.     

    "Teachers leave a footprint that can last a lifetime. I broke that trust, and I am sorry."