Special education teacher accused of 'making out' with student: affidavit

A former northwestern Mississippi teacher is facing charges after authorities say she had an inappropriate relationship with a special education student.

Natalia Wright, 31, is a former special education teacher at Lewisburg High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi, about 30 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee. She has been charged with “fondling by person of position of trust," according to an affidavit obtained by Paste BN.

Neither DeSoto County prosecutors or the school district immediately responded to Paste BN’s requests for comment this week.

According to the affidavit, Wright is accused of having “licentious sexual desires” with a child under the age of 18.

She was a special education teacher at Lewisburg High School during the 2024 to 2025 school year, taught the victim, and was also the student’s tutor.

It was not not clear on May 20 who is representing Wright in court, but she has a scheduled preliminary court date on June 6 at 9 a.m., a clerk from the DeSoto County Justice Court confirmed to Paste BN.

Is the teacher still employed at the school?

Wright admitted to kissing the student multiple times while tutoring them, and her husband captured the confession on audio, the affidavit read. On April 21, some witnesses saw Wright kissing and “making out” with the student in a Taco Bell and church parking lot, the affidavit read.

She resigned from Lewisburg High School on April 3 due to “inappropriate contact" with the victim that included communications, and giving the child a ride to school in her own vehicle multiple times, per the affidavit.

Wright was arrested last week and was released on a $200,000 bond, per the affidavit. She is required to wear an ankle monitor and a no contact order was put into place.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.