Third staffer under investigation at same Manhattan high school; DOE suspends aide

A third Department of Education staffer at a Manhattan high school has been suspended without pay as investigators review allegations of sexual misconduct involving students.

The suspension concerns a 36-year-old city Department of Education community associate who began working at the Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine in 2017. He was accused last year of sexual misconduct involving a female student, according to sources familiar with the probe. The allegations have not been substantiated in public records, and the staffer has not been charged with a crime. The student involved is reported to be an immigrant from Spain who speaks little English; her exact age was not disclosed. The alleged abuse came to light after the girl’s mother read text messages from the staffer and alerted school officials. The school is housed in the Murry Bergtraum building near the city’s police headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

The Department of Education confirmed the suspension of the aide without pay while the investigation proceeds. The case is being overseen by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools, which has labeled it an active matter. The DOE declined to comment beyond confirming the suspension.

The Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine has now faced inquiries about three staffers since 2023. Ocean Valentine, a former aide at the school, was found by SCI to have sex with a 17-year-old male student in May 2022. Valentine, who was 22 at the time, had sex with the teen at least three times during school lunch breaks, according to SCI findings. Valentine was fired in 2023, and the case did not result in criminal charges. Another aide remains under investigation for alleged sexual activity with a female student and is accused of stealing $5,000 the teen had received, according to sources. The DOE suspended that aide without pay pending the probe.

Security personnel escorted the employee from the building after the female student reported the incident earlier this year, a source said. The DOE confirmed the current suspension pending the probe and did not provide further details. Parents expressed alarm at the scope of the cases, with one mother telling The Post that such incidents are troubling and that vetting for adults in schools needs to be strengthened to ensure that those entrusted with children’s safety are thoroughly screened.

The three cases at the same school have drawn renewed scrutiny of how staff are vetted and monitored in New York City public schools. SCI officials say investigations of this kind are ongoing and involve reviewing text messages, corroborating accounts with students and parents, and examining access to students during school hours. While the specifics of the current case remain confidential, officials emphasize that protections for students and due process for staff are central to the investigative process.

The proximity of the school to the NYPD headquarters, and the public visibility of the case, have amplified attention from parents and community members who say accountability must be swift and thorough. City education officials have said they are pursuing all appropriate channels to ensure a safe learning environment and to support families affected by these allegations. The department did not comment on potential policy changes, but advocates say the incidents underscore the need for enhanced background checks, ongoing monitoring of staff behavior, and clear reporting pathways for students and families.

As the SCI and DOE continue to evaluate the current case alongside the two earlier investigations, the district faces questions about vetting procedures and the effectiveness of safeguards designed to protect students. Officials stress that investigations can be lengthy and complex, and that suspensions pending review are a standard precaution when there are credible concerns. The school community awaits further updates as investigators determine whether additional actions are warranted and what steps will be taken to reinforce the school’s oversight and reporting mechanisms.