A NYC Division of Schooling (DOE) watchdog investigation substantiated allegations {that a} former Queens highschool instructor engaged in non-consensual sexual conduct and inappropriate communications with a pupil between 2014 and 2016, the town’s Particular Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC Faculty District (SCI) mentioned on Tuesday.
Per the investigation, former John Adams Excessive Faculty instructor Lennard Persaud engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with a pupil on a number of events whereas the scholar was 16 and 17 years outdated throughout her junior and senior years on the Ozone Park college. The company additionally discovered that Persaud maintained sexually express and inappropriate communications with the scholar.
SCI mentioned its investigation started in April 2023 after receiving allegations from the previous pupil that Persaud had sexually assaulted her a number of instances whereas she attended the Ozone Park-based college situated at 101-01 Rockaway Blvd.
‘Breakdowns’ and plenty of crying
Investigators reviewed textual content messages exchanged containing express sexual contact between Persaud and the previous pupil. SCI additionally interviewed former college students who corroborated facets of the relationships and reported witnessing the scholars’ emotional misery in the course of the interval, together with having “breakdowns” and “crying a lot in school.”
In keeping with SCI, Persaud declined to be interviewed by the company, citing his tenured standing.
“Lennard Persaud’s conduct was egregious, dangerous, and predatory, and he has no place working in a school or anywhere around children,” Particular Commissioner Anastasia Coleman mentioned. “Teachers are entrusted with the safety and well-being of their students, and anyone who exploits that trust and their position of authority over adolescents must be held accountable. SCI will continue aggressively investigating allegations of sexual misconduct to protect students and ensure our schools remain safe learning environments.”
Persaud was arrested by the NYPD in June 2023 on fees together with third-degree rape, third-degree felony sexual act, endangering the welfare of a kid, and third-degree sexual abuse within the third diploma.
In Jan. 2024, he pleaded responsible to disorderly conduct, a violation, and obtained a conditional discharge.
The DOE despatched an announcement to New York News concerning Persaud’s employment standing, which learn:
“Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students, and the behavior described in this case is deeply disturbing, and a profound betrayal of the trust placed in educators. Upon hearing about this misconduct, this individual was removed away from students, and is no longer employed with New York City Public Schools. We remain steadfast in our commitment to keeping our schools safe and ensuring that only those who uphold these values are entrusted with educating our children.”
In the meantime, the accused’s LinkedIn profile nonetheless lists him as employed by the DOE, the place he has labored since 1998.
Based mostly on its findings, SCI substantiated the allegations and beneficial that Persaud’s employment with the DOE be terminated and that the issue code hooked up to his personnel file stay in place to forestall future employment with the DOE or its distributors.
SCI additionally referred the findings to the New York State Schooling Division for applicable motion.
