Naomi Tekea Craig used to be hailed warmly in school newsletters as someone who oversaw choirs, directed stage productions, and mentored young musicians. She can be seen grinning with elementary school pupils in pictures while performing under projected Christian prayers while holding a microphone. Her name now reverberates in courtrooms and across the country for quite different reasons.
Craig appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court via voice connection on January 27, 2026. She was serene. Not even emotional. She said, “Guilty, your honor,” in response to each of the fifteen charges that were read out loud. Magistrate Clare Cullen outlined the accusations, which were clear: sexual penetration of a minor under the age of 13, indecent transactions, child exploitation, and ongoing abuse after the youngster turned 13. It was persistent and methodical.
According to police, the abuse started in late October 2024. He was twelve years old. Craig was eight months pregnant when the relationship ended in December 2025, and it is now thought that her victim was the father of the child. On January 8, that infant was born. Later, the paternity was established by DNA testing.
Mostly in the peaceful Western Australian suburbs of Silver Sands and Meadow Springs, the abuse occurred in a number of places. Craig was employed as a music instructor at the private, coeducational Frederick Irwin Anglican School in Mandurah. After she was arrested, the school took immediate action. The principal explained that the boy in question was not a pupil at their school and notified the parents. Craig’s return was immediately prohibited.
| Name | Naomi Tekea Craig |
|---|---|
| Age | 33 |
| Profession | Former music teacher at Frederick Irwin Anglican School |
| Location | Mandurah, Western Australia |
| Charges | 15 counts including child sexual abuse and possession of exploitation material |
| Legal Status | Pleaded guilty on January 27, 2026 |
| Victim | Male student, aged 12 at start of abuse |
| Court Proceedings | Transferred to District Court, appearance set for March 27, 2026 |
| Key Detail | Gave birth to victim’s child in January 2026 |
| Source | ABC News Australia |
She had maintained an exceptionally polished public image. She attended Edith Cowan University and the University of Western Australia for her education. After moving to Melbourne, she married her longtime husband in a beautiful vineyard ceremony and gave birth to their first child in 2022. Online videos show her walking down the aisle with a smile on her face, surrounded by loved ones, and her life seems to be based on ambition, structure, and love.
Something, however, was breaking beneath the surface. She allegedly started grooming and abusing the child outside of school, according to the prosecution. Craig, who went by Naomi Woods professionally, was a private piano coach before coming to the Frederick Irwin faculty in 2024. Many people praised her work. In school newsletters, she was referred to as “involved,” “passionate,” and “a bright energy.”
It is hard to accept the contrast between the acknowledged predator and the trusted educator. It also contributes to the case’s emotional resonance. Many people who knew her saw the betrayal to be personal as well as criminal.
The court case is proceeding swiftly. Sentencing proceedings in the District Court, where her case has been expedited, will start in March. Under stringent guidelines, bail has been extended. She is not allowed to interact with any children unattended, with the exception of her newborn. Now, when she visits, even her elder child needs to be accompanied by another adult.
The school community was “blindsided,” according to one parent who wished to stay anonymous. Others expressed indignation at how someone with such access to kids could commit these crimes for more than a year without anyone noticing. The emotional toll is unthinkable, especially for the young victim and his family.
The way this was ultimately discovered further muddies the story. Pregnancy and subsequent science brought the truth to light, not rumors or warning signs at school. The 13-year-old kid was apparently verified as the baby’s father by a placental DNA sample.
When I read that particular detail, I stopped—how something as biological and irrevocable as delivery turned become the proof that broke the quiet.
Reid Hogan, Craig’s attorney, informed the court that although his client wasn’t yet compelled to enter a guilty plea, she did so. Sentencing may be accelerated by that ruling, but it doesn’t address the more general issues raised.
Why was this kept a secret for so long? How can organizations strike a balance between employee trust and accountability? What long-term support will be given to a victim who is currently navigating puberty while also being a father is possibly the most important question.
Even though this event is unsettling, it has already started to influence larger conversations about school safety. Policies pertaining to behavior off campus and the duties of teachers outside of the classroom are being reexamined by education departments throughout.
Without a doubt, Craig’s narrative will be included in psychology dissertations and law textbooks. The student, the school, and the staff, on the other hand, will continue to see it as something completely different. A cut. A reminder. It was a tragedy evaluated in years lost as well as years served.
No court decision can undo what has already occurred. What it can do, however, is to create a clear line—a moral and legal one—that makes it apparent that some roles come with responsibilities that, once broken, cannot be easily ignored.
This problem has no tidy solution. Only the hope that by exposing what was concealed, others will be shielded from ever going through anything so horribly similar.
