Guidance Counselor Surrenders Credentials

CONCORD – A former high school guidance counselor has surrendered her education credential as part of a plea agreement in Rockingham County Superior Court on July 9, 2018. Kristie Torbick of Lee, a former counselor at Exeter High School, has surrendered her credential with the New Hampshire Department of Education after pleading guilty to four counts of felonious sexual assault. The assaults occurred in late 2016, and early 2017.

Torbick had held an experienced educator credential with a school counselor endorsement with the NH DOE. The process of surrendering her credential led the department to revoke it today.

As part of the plea agreement, Torbick will need to register as a sex offender after serving her sentence. The revocation of her credential will be entered into the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) database so she will no longer be able to work in any education system in the United States.

Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the NH DOE, said keeping students safe in schools was a high priority for the department and he offered thanks to everyone involved in resolving the case.

“Educators in the state of New Hampshire are professionals and as such, they should be holding themselves to the highest standard possible,” he said. “While incidents like this are rare, we are glad that it has been resolved and that she will no longer be around children in an education setting.”