A married principal and his instructor lover turned their Queens elementary faculty right into a sizzling sheets motel — having intercourse in every single place from the the library to the science labs, typically whereas youngsters have been at school, sources advised The Submit.
Officers are actually investigating Assistant Principal Sergio Herrera for allegedly conducting a torrid affair with underling Jessenia Zapata — and threatening the roles of staffers who discovered, the sources stated.
“This can be a faculty run by concern ,” stated one in every of practically a dozen sources at PS 197 in Far Rockaway, who spoke to the Submit on situation of anonymity.
“Everyone seems to be scared to say something. We don’t know what else to do.”
The Particular Commissioner of Investigation is in possession of textual content messages that point out Herrera and Zapata had intercourse of their faculty constructing throughout work days, the sources stated.
“I simply had intercourse with him in his workplace,” Zapata wrote to a colleague throughout a college day in October 2019. “We’re in library now. Lady it was definitely worth the threat.”
The venue modified to a science room on one other event, in keeping with a message.
“We simply had intercourse in rickys lab within the closet,” Zapata wrote in a December 2019 message seen by The Submit.
A number of faculty staffers stated they have been appalled.
“How is a father or mother gong to really feel that this is occurring of their child’s faculty?” a instructor stated. “It’s simply completely inappropriate and reveals that they really feel like they’ll do something.”
Faculty sources stated Herrera and Zapata additionally schemed to name out sick on the identical day to satisfy at a lodge
“U assume individuals r going to speaking shit if we r each out?” Herrera requested earlier than the October 2019 assembly.
“Idgaf anymore,” Zapata replied. “Allow them to discuss amor.”
Herrera, who’s married, grew involved that their actions have been drawing consideration on the faculty — and confronted one instructor in regards to the rumors in a January 2020 assembly.
With Zapata within the room, Herrera advised the crying educator that he would extinguish her profession if she didn’t inform him who knew of the connection or if she ever leaked phrase of it.
In the meantime, Zapata has been proven favoritism in her faculty assignments and presently oversees the third grade as a grade chief, sources stated.
Herrera’s spouse finally discovered in regards to the affair and furiously alerted principal Christina Villavicencio in 2020, sources stated.
Involved academics contacted their union representatives late final 12 months and the SCI started an investigation this January that’s ongoing.
“Our colleges have to be secure havens for all college students and workers, and these are very troubling allegations,” stated DOE spokesperson Katie O’Hanlon. “Instantly following these allegations being reported, the instructor was reassigned to a special supervisor and there may be an ongoing, unbiased investigation to find out applicable subsequent steps.”
Faculty sources stated that Zapata and Herrera nonetheless seem collectively on Zoom conferences associated to curriculum and preserve shut skilled ties.
Zapata declined to touch upon the allegations.
Herrera couldn’t be reached.