One of the most important responsibility that the DOE has is to ensure that the people they hire to work with children can be trusted in their care. However, time and again, the DOE has failed in their responsibility to properly investigate potential new hires, often with devastating results. Moreover, the existing investigation process has proven to be inept and worse maybe corrupt in nature.
Its not just the case of Brooklyn Tech High School teacher Sean Shaynak, who has been arrested for criminal sexual assault charges. What's troubling was that Mr. Shaynak had a restraining order against him in Maryland for assaulting an 11 year old boy and the DOE knowing this, still allowed his hiring. Unbelievable! Then there is the case of James Brown, who the DOE hired to become Principal of the troubled Flushing High School. Mr. Brown was hired by the DOE who failed to look into the resignation of Mr. Brown from the Baldwin NY schools district. If they just simply Googled his name, they would have found that he was found guilty of harassment, including sexual harassment,and retaliationagainst a female subordinate in a jury trial and was forced to resign. Who can forget the poor role models these two"Leadership Academy"principals demonstrated in making obscene and sexually violent videos. First, it was Anissa Chalmerswho starred in a role called "Gang Girl" which featured her shooting, killing, and raping her enemies. Nice role model for her students growing up in gang infested South Bronx. Yet the DOE has allowed her to continue to be Principal. Then there's Principal Emmanuel Polanco, who starred in a sexually explicit rap video that glorified himself as a sex machine and demonized women. Yet the DOE has allowed him to remain on the job. Finally, there's the case of CEO John Shea, who has beenaccused of sexual harassment by two different women, leading to two federal lawsuits. Yet, the DOE did nothing about it. I would be remiss if we didn't bring up the case of Assistant Principal Michael Herlihy, an ex-priest who was defrocked because of his alleged sexual misconduct with two male students, yet the DOE didn't bother to investigate why he was defrocked as a priest and fired from Cardinal Hayes High School.
Obviously, accountability is only for the school staff but not for DOE administrators or managers as the blame lies with the disappointing Chancellor who has failed to "clean house"at Tweed and has shown a lack of focus in running the New York City school system. Maybe she needs to start from scratch and replace the flawed and corrupt investigation process since the present system is badly run and unfair.