Norwalk teacher on leave pending inquiry into relationship with student

A Norwalk teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave pending investigations into the nature of a relationship with one of her students.Earlier this month, Castalia police found Alexa Nasonti, 25, seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle belonging to a 17-year-old male student.He was sitting in the driver's seat when police found them together in the vehicle at about 9 p.m. April 2 at Lion's Park in the village.They told police they were talking about the boy's ex-girlfriend and "nothing was going on."But the Erie County Sheriff's Office is reviewing hundreds of text messages exchanged between the teacher and the student in just one week, Capt. Paul Sigsworth said. Officials have confirmed some of the messages do appear to be sexual in nature.Norwalk schools also has launched its own investigation into possible school policy violations.Superintendent Dennis Doughty said Nasonti was placed on administrative leave Monday pending the outcome of the investigation."We want to make sure we get to the truth and protect the students involved and go from there," he said.Nasonti is a high school art teacher and assistant softball coach.For more on this developing story, pick up a copy of Tuesday's Register or epaper.