Rahway Elementary School Principal Arrested on Child Endangerment Charge
The arrest of Dr. Dion Patterson in early January came to light after the school district announced his resignation.
Dion Patterson, former principal of Madison Elementary School in Rahway.
Chris Howell | January 16, 2026. ***Last Updated 12:45 PM***
A Rahway elementary school principal has been arrested and charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to New Jersey court records.
Dion L. Patterson, 44, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child by abuse or neglect by a caretaker. The alleged offense date is listed as January 4, 2026. The charge is an indictable offense, equivalent to a felony under New Jersey law.
Patterson was arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint and was released pending further proceedings. Bail was set at $0, with conditions, court records show.
The case is being handled in Union County Superior Court. A plea disposition conference is scheduled for March 4, 2026, before Judge Joseph P. Donohue.
In a statement to The Central Jerseyan, defense attorney Brett Rosen said his client maintains his innocence.
DON’T LET AN ALGORITHM DECIDE YOUR NEWS
Independent hyperlocal news that’s fast, fair, and accurate.
“He has been a respectable member of the community for many years, and we look forward to our day in court to clear his name,” Rosen said.
In a letter dated January 15, Rahway Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Aleya Shoieb informed the Madison School community that Patterson had submitted his resignation, which will be placed on the Board of Education agenda for approval later this month.
The letter states that Assistant Principal Doris Jones will continue to serve in her role, with support from district administration during the transition. Shoieb said the district has a contingency plan in place to ensure minimal disruption at the school.
The letter did not reference the criminal charge or arrest.
In a separate statement to The Central Jerseyan, Shoieb and School Board President Joseph Toma said the district is legally prohibited from commenting on personnel matters.
“We understand the community’s concerns regarding the recent resignation of Dr. Dion Patterson,” the statement says. “We are aware that there are criminal charges pending against Dr. Patterson. We would like to assure the community that the charges do not involve any students of the Rahway Public School District and are unrelated to any incidents or events involving the District.”
Details of the allegations have not been made public, and the criminal complaint does not include narrative information describing the alleged conduct.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Editor’s note: The Central Jerseyan is free to read and supported by advertising. If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help sustain it, you can become a citizen supporter on Patreon. Your contribution helps fund continued coverage of local government, schools, and community issues.