A New York teacher has managed to survive three separate investigations into her conduct in the classroom to continue to earn $75,000 a year, despite a number of written reprimands and a call for her dismissal by the city’s Education Department.
Carmen Rodriguez, a Queens gym teacher has a long list of inappropriate and often down right raunchy behavior with her students including touching a student’s inner thigh, telling another “you like it rough,” and numerous occasions of cursing in both English and Spanish in the classroom.
In 2011, a number of hearings were held to determine what was to be done about Rodriguez’s behavior. In the end, she was fine $15,000, which was to be taken out from paychecks over 18 months/
In his decision, the arbitrator from the hearings stated, “Not only did she not model proper behavior, the evidence demonstrates she instigated and promoted bad behavior in her class.”
Despite the numerous accusations against her, Rodriguez maintains that she is innocent.
When asked why Rodriguez still has a job, the Education Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said, “In 2011, when (investigators) substantiated additional incidents of misconduct, (the Education Department) brought charges seeking her termination. Following a hearing, however, an arbitrator decided not to terminate her.”
