Restoration Academy in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
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A NYC public schools watchdog investigation substantiated allegations on Thursday that a teacher assigned to a Brooklyn school engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct while at work — including exposing himself during a recorded virtual parent-teacher conference.
The Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District (SCI) report also said that the teacher — Zhengxian “Remy” Li, formerly assigned to Restoration Academy, located at 31 New York Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant — engaged in conduct “consistent with masturbation” inside a school classroom at the middle school.
“The conduct substantiated in this investigation was disturbing and wholly incompatible with the responsibilities of an educator,” Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman said. “Engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior in a school building and during virtual meetings involving parents is unacceptable. There is zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in New York City public schools, and SCI will continue aggressively investigating allegations involving those entrusted with the care of students.”
According to SCI, the investigation was launched after the office received an online complaint alleging that Li exposed himself during a recorded virtual parent-teacher meeting. Investigators said Li had completed a language department presentation and, while someone else was speaking, stood up from his desk, exposing his buttocks and genital area to others in the meeting.
Approximately three weeks later, SCI investigators said it received a second complaint alleging that Li was seen inside his classroom with his sweatpants pulled down and his hand inside his pants, moving in a manner consistent with masturbation while on school property.
Following the probe, SCI recommended that Li’s employment with the DOE be terminated, that the problem code attached to his personnel file remain in place to prevent future employment with the agency or its vendors, and that a copy of its findings be forwarded to the New York State Education Department for any action it deems appropriate.
amNewYork contacted the DOE and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office to ask about the status of Li’s employment and whether criminal charges were filed, and is awaiting responses.
The investigation follows a similar probe into a former Queens public school teacher who SCI said last month was found to have engaged in sexual misconduct and inappropriate communications with a student between 2014 and 2016.
In this case, the teacher was “removed away from students,” according to the DOE, and no longer employed by NYC 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,” a DOE spokesperson told amNewYork on July 23.