A Portage County judge handed down the maximum sentence to a former local educator, convicted on sex charges involving students. 
 
"Nobody goes into the field of education to hurt their students," said former Windham School Superintendent Laura Amero at her sentencing hearing Monday.  
 
The 35-year-old was in tears as she went before a Portage County judge after previously pleading guilty to having sex with a 16-year-old male in 2017 and attempting to have sex with another male student while working as a principal in the district between 2015 and 2017.
 
"I never imagined I would hurt my kids, but I did. I allowed lines to be crossed that never should have been crossed," said Amero.
 
Amero also once taught at Western Reserve and Campbell Schools. 
 
She is now pregnant; her attorney said Amero's husband, parents, and in-laws were present in the courtroom to show their support in hopes of a lesser sentence. 
 
Amero's attorney also noted the former educator is in counseling and will never be able to teach again. "Once I lost Windham, I lost my purpose in life. There is a hole that will never be filled again," said Amero as she paused in tears. "I will never be able to positively impact students, which is all I ever wanted to do."
 
Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman, though, appeared to lack sympathy in the case.
 
"Again, I can't understand how this keeps happening with teachers, superintendents, principals. How does it keep happening? You know you're going to get caught," said Pittman.
 
Pittman asked Amero the "purpose?"
 
"There was no purpose other than I let lines cross. There is no one to blame but myself. I got caught up, I let myself come down to their level," said Amero.
 
Pittman sentenced Amero to the maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.
 
Amero must also register as a Tier 3 sex offender.
 
She can appeal the sentencing.
 
Amero is scheduled to report to jail on April 1st, after the birth of her child in March.