Probe: NYC teacher had students write to inmate
Feb 16, 2012, 12:55 AM
NEW YORK (AP) – Investigators say a New York City teacher had her students make Christmas cards for an incarcerated felon.
The special commissioner of investigation for city schools says Queens public school teacher Melissa Dean asked her fifth-graders to make holiday cards for someone who was lonely.
The commissioner’s report was issued Wednesday. It says Dean mailed the cards to a friend serving time at the upstate Groveland Correctional Facility for weapons charges and violating an order of protection.
Some of the cards included students’ names and addresses. The package of cards was intercepted by prison officials, who called the school principal. That triggered the investigation.
Dean was removed from the classroom. The Department of Education is seeking to fire her.
Dean and her attorney haven’t responded to telephone messages left Wednesday.
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