A NYC Department of Education (DOE) watchdog investigation substantiated allegations that a former Queens high school teacher engaged in non-consensual sexual conduct and inappropriate communications with a student between 2014 and 2016, the city’s Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District (SCI) said on Tuesday.
Per the investigation, former John Adams High School teacher Lennard Persaud engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse with a student on multiple occasions while the student was 16 and 17 years old during her junior and senior years at the Ozone Park school. The agency also found that Persaud maintained sexually explicit and inappropriate communications with the student.
SCI said its investigation began in April 2023 after receiving allegations from the former student that Persaud had sexually assaulted her multiple times while she attended the Ozone Park-based school located at 101-01 Rockaway Blvd.
‘Breakdowns’ and lots of crying
Investigators reviewed text messages exchanged containing explicit sexual contact between Persaud and the former student. SCI also interviewed former students who corroborated aspects of the relationships and reported witnessing the students’ emotional distress during the period, including having “breakdowns” and “crying a lot in school.”
According to SCI, Persaud declined to be interviewed by the agency, citing his tenured status.
“Lennard Persaud’s conduct was egregious, dangerous, and predatory, and he has no place working in a school or anywhere around children,” Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman said. “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 charges including third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree sexual abuse in the third degree.
In Jan. 2024, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a violation, and received a conditional discharge.
The DOE sent a statement to amNewYork regarding Persaud’s employment status, which read:
“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.”
Meanwhile, the accused’s LinkedIn profile still lists him as employed by the DOE, where he has worked since 1998.
Based on its findings, SCI substantiated the allegations and recommended that Persaud’s employment with the DOE be terminated and that the problem code attached to his personnel file remain in place to prevent future employment with the DOE or its vendors.
SCI also referred the findings to the New York State Education Department for appropriate action.