An assistant principal who served because the “sexual harassment prevention” liaison at a prime Queens public college was eliminated after 13 women accused him of creepy conduct and feedback, The Put up has realized.
Hector L. Diaz — additionally the “Respect for All” liaison at Queens Excessive College for the Sciences at York School — commented that women seemed dressed for “the club,” used racial stereotypes about Asian-Individuals, grabbed a lady’s arm, and rubbed one other’s again, in accordance with incidents described for investigators.
One of many metropolis Division of Schooling’s elite specialised excessive faculties, QHSS is situated on a CUNY campus in Jamaica with 498 college students — 81% of them Asian.
“His lack of professionalism and inappropriate behavior has impacted my friends, peers and close-knit community of students,” Kiki Zou,17, a QHSS senior advised Principal Ana De Jesus in an April 17 electronic mail.
A scholar authorities chief despatched the principal a litany of 10 complaints by feminine classmates over the previous college yr, with women saying Diaz made them really feel not solely uncomfortable, however “threatened and scared.”
Excerpts embrace:
- “Mr. Diaz randomly stopped us and abruptly asked in the hallway if we were going to the club as a joke, seeing how we were dressed. . . . It was just loose comments like those that made it known to us that he crossed professional boundaries and went out of his way to comment on students’ looks and mannerisms.”
- “Mr. Diaz was recruiting students for color guard. My friend and I were interested in joining but had a conflict of schedule. As we were leaving school, we bumped into Mr. Diaz who said he would be more than happy to train us on the spot. The two of us were led into an empty lecture hall where he observed us through various drills. Throughout the uncomfortable training, he made various inappropriate comments like “all the Asian Francis girls [referring to Francis Lewis HS] would die to be on drill team.”
- “I said hello [to Diaz] as a formal gesture like I do with every teacher and staff member. But he stopped me and began to have a conversation which I didn’t mind at all. However, he shifted his hand towards my back and rubbed my back. I didn’t consent to any teacher, especially male teachers, touching me like that.”
- “Mr. Diaz told me if my parents found out that I’m in a relationship, they would deport me . . . I felt really bad how he was being so racist towards me by making that comparison.”
- “Mr. Diaz signed me up for a trip without my parents’ or my consent. And when he saw me in the hallways he asked me if I was going on the trip. And he tried to lay a hand on me. I remember I was extremely uncomfortable after that day, and every time I walk into the school I have to check to see if he’s around. I no longer feel safe on school grounds.”
- “I remember clearly Mr.Diaz said, ‘Wow you look so pretty’ in a really weird tone and started approaching me, trying to get into a close distance. I had to avoid him by leaving that area of the gym with my friend but he kept chasing after us. . . . He physically grabbed my friend by the arm and started questioning us even though we told him we don’t feel comfortable.”
- “A few weeks ago I went to the counselor for my schedule. When I was about to leave, he blocked the door frame of the office, leaned in very close and started asking me about my personal life, like my family members, where I live, and even where I go for extracurricular classes. I felt deeply threatened and scared, and extremely uncomfortable.”
- In different alleged incidents, Diaz texted a senior who had not given him her telephone quantity, and advised members of a membership about their college funding, “You’re lucky I like you girls.”
A scholar who advised De Jesus concerning the incidents stated the principal promised to debate them with the superintendent, however the scholar by no means heard again.
The scholar forwarded classmates’ complaints to the Particular Commissioner of Investigation for metropolis faculties.
The SCI has opened 9 instances towards Diaz since 2023, together with seven this yr, however didn’t examine any, a spokesman stated.
As an alternative, SCI referred the complaints to the DOE’s personal Workplace of Particular Investigations, and one to the DOE’s Workplace of Equal Alternative and Range Administration.
Diaz, 54, holds state certification as a pre-Ok to Grade 6 elementary instructor, and as a faculty constructing chief.
In 2009, Diaz was named a dean and several other years later an interim assistant principal in The Bronx on the City Meeting College for Wildlife Conservation, which the DOE shut down after an 18-year-old scholar fatally stabbed Matthew McCree, 15, throughout a category in 2017.
Diaz then joined a DOE group of assistant principals with out everlasting jobs, information present.
Diaz “is no longer part of our community,” QHSS principal De Jesus advised households in a June 17 electronic mail. “While I am not at liberty to share information with you, know that I take any issue of concern, small or large, including allegations, very seriously and as an agent of the Department of Education I am required to take specific actions.”
DOE officers refused to say whether or not Diaz continues to be working with college students at one other college.
“This alleged behavior is absolutely unacceptable,” a DOE spokesperson stated. “Any and all forms of harassment have no place in our schools. Thorough investigations are ongoing and appropriate action will be taken upon completion.”
Reached by telephone, Diaz declined to remark and hung up.
