Despite having her fired, a professor in New York City is still alleged to have had sexual relations with a student.
Following an investigation into her conduct with youth, the Department of Education fired 33- season- old , Dulaina Almonte from her work at , Harry S. Truman High School in 2020, the New York Post reported Saturday:
NYC instructor fired after texting school girl 28K days, sexual assault allegations teaching at various school: ‘ Can’t f–king touch me’ ssl ://t.co/gQ4xsTtfVd photograph. twitter.com/kM3GbfwBmB
— New York Post ( @nypost ) May 11, 2024
She told the Post that she is still an educator and that it is unlikely that she is innocent of the charges because she is currently teaching at a contract school in the Bronx.
” Still a tutor! Can’t contact me!  , Also a professor working abroad. Like, you really ca n’t f–king touch me”, she stated.
Almonte is accused of sending a 17- yr- old woman student more than 28, 000 text messages in a 14- month period, while even sending almost 2, 000 texts to a 12th grade male student.
” The NYPD also investigated a Truman HS person’s say that she and a former kid were’ involved in a sexual work’ in a school, according to a policeman report”, the outlet said. However, the person has denied the claims.
According to reports, the professor had been talking to students online over the weekend after the event was opened by authorities. She reportedly communicated with them through encrypted Snapchat and WhatsApp calling, and teenagers frequently visited her home.
Also, the Post , reported Saturday that “electronic physical grooming by educators is an continuous threat to students in Downtown public schools — despite dozens of pleas from school investigators for DOE]Department of Education ] to prevent student- teacher cell- phone contact, experts told The Post“.
According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) website, grooming is a common tool abusers use.
” Grooming can take place online or in- person. It’s usually employed by a family member or someone else in the victim’s circle of trust, such as a coach, teacher, youth group leader or others who naturally have some interaction with the victim”, the site read.
The site noted that a pattern of grooming may include victim selection, gaining access before isolating the victim, the development of trust, secret- keeping, and desensitizing the victim to touch, along with conversations about sexual topics.
” For teens, who may be closer in age to the abuser, it can be particularly hard to recognize tactics used in grooming. Be alert for signs that your teen has a relationship with an adult that includes secrecy, undue influence or control, or pushes personal boundaries”, the website said.
Multiple New York City teachers were charged with inappropriate behavior toward students in 2022.
