Former Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock teacher accused of stealing school district money enters into plea agreement, placed on probation

ROCKFORD — A former special education teacher for the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School District accused of stealing over $20,000 from the school district has entered a no contest plea, been given a deferred judgment and been sentenced to probation.

The State Auditor’s Office released a report back on June 30th naming 52-year-old Deborah Kadera as being responsible for $18,086 in undeposited collections, $3783 in improper payments, and $3162 in unsupported payments. Kadera was responsible for the money in the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Parent Teacher Organization and the district’s junior class account when the alleged misappropriation happened.

Kadera at the time was placed on paid administrative leave and she later resigned from the district.

Kadera was charged in late July with first-degree theft, a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Kadera recently entered the no contest plea to a reduced charge of third-degree theft. She was sentenced to two years probation, fined a civil penalty of $855, and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.