HAMMONTON, N.J. -- A female high school gym teacher in New Jersey pleads guilty to charges involving three students, but will avoid jail time.

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Traci Tapp, 28, was a physical education teacher at Hammonton High School in Atlantic County.

Under her plea agreement, Tapp will never be able to teach in a public school again. But she will not face any time in prison.

"I was a little surprised that there was no probation or any jail term," said Chief Frank Ingemi of the Hammonton police department.

Hammonton's top cop had that reaction after learning the result of Tapp's guilty plea this week.

The former gym teacher was arrested in September for allegedly having sexual encounters with three male students between 2001 and 2003.

At the time, she was charged with numerous offenses including sexual assault and official misconduct.

But in court Monday, Tapp avoided possible prison time by pleading guilty to offensive touching, which is a disorderly persons offense.

Under her deal with prosecutors, the conviction forever bars Tapp from public employment in New Jersey and that the police chief says he's satisfied with.

"I believe the most important factor here was the children and she again will not be able in the state of new jersey ever educate another child," Ingemi said.

In her plea, Tapp admitted that she touched the lower back and buttocks of male students and said she knew her actions were offensive.

The judge ordered her to pay a $225 fine, but declined to put her probation because he said permanently barring her from public employment at her age is a severe punishment.

On Thursday, Tapp's attorney told NBC 10 the plea agreement was the farthest she would go when it came to admitting inappropriate actions with any student.

He also said forfeiting future public sector jobs in the state carries a heavy burden for the former teacher.

Jason Eickmeyer, 18, isn't pleased that the plea deal his former gym teacher struck with prosecutors won't send her to prison. Eickmeyer told NBC 10. He was one of three male students involved with Tapp.

"If it was the other way around, if it was a male on a female student, I think he would definitely be punished more severely, he would definitely be in prison," Eickmeyer said.

Eickmeyer also told NBC 10 he would have taken the stand against Tapp if he had been offered the chance.