A yoga instructor was axed from a Manhattan school for repeatedly engaging in \u201cinappropriate\u201d behavior with a 6-year-old student, a bombshell investigation has revealed.<\/p>\n
Demetrius Napolitano, 31, the founder and owner of Harlem-based nonprofit Fostering Meditation, was allegedly touchy with the young girl who attended PS 108 on Madison Avenue while he taught yoga classes there under a contract with the city Department of Education.<\/p>\n
Napolitano allegedly repeatedly hugged the child and carried her around the school, raising alarm bells with teachers who reported the conduct, according to the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools.<\/p>\n
Demetrius Napolitano was allegedly inappropriate with the young girl who attended P.S. 108 while he taught yoga classes there. Demetrius Tercheron Napolitano\/ Instagram<\/p>\n
Napolitano is the founder of the community-based organization Fostering Meditation. Demetrius Tercheron Napolitano\/ Instagram<\/p>\n
When confronted, he allegedly downplayed concerns and dubbed himself a \u201cfather figure\u201d to the girl, SCI said.<\/p>\n
Since-retired principal William Gladstone also did a lazy job vetting Napolitano for the gig, failing to even fingerprint the instructor when he was hired in 2019, according to investigative findings reviewed by The Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The alleged creep was reported to SCI investigators on April 30, 2024, by the child\u2019s foster mother, who saw some of the interactions, SCI said.<\/p>\n
Weeks earlier, the foster mom had watched the girl jump into Napolitano\u2019s arms, wrap her legs around him, and press her body into his, the watchdog found.<\/p>\n
The misconduct allegedly occurred at P.S. 108 on Madison Ave. Google Maps<\/p>\n
Bill Gladstone, the principal at PS\/MS 108, seen above. Bill Gladstone\/ Linkedin<\/p>\n
Teachers told the mom that the yogi had been showing the little girl more attention than the other kids, buying her gifts and food, letting her play on his phone, holding her hand in the hallway, and carrying her up the stairs, investigators said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Napolitano, who was supposed to have a licensed DOE teacher with him at all times and was removed from the school during the investigation, denied that his actions were inappropriate, SCI noted.<\/p>\n
Napolitano allegedly referred to himself as a \u201cfather figure\u201d to the little girl. Demetrius Tercheron Napolitano\/ Instagram<\/p>\n