Manhattan Teacher Remain Employed After Multiple Sexual Harassment Allegations By Students

A Manhattan teacher has been allowed to remain employed for an entire year at the city’s high school following multiple sexual harassment complaints.

27-year-old Gabriel Mitey is a social studies teacher at Lower Manhattan Arts Academy (LOMA). While employed, he received numerous complaints from students of sexual harassment last year. However, investigators weren’t sure if his actions required firing or just “weird” and a “stupid mistake.”

A graduate from the school made a complaint against Mitey that happened during the pandemic. The student alleges that once Mitey’s class went virtual, the teacher sent texts about non-school matters. “I could tell that he was flirting, it was very much flirting. He had an ulterior motive,” the graduate said.

Mitey also suggested hanging out during the summer with the student. “He wanted to show me a book. We could have coffee at his place, maybe food. He basically asked me on a date.” The student declined the invitation.

Another student of Mitey’s says that the teacher videotaped her reading a book and told her to “act mad” and pretend to have trouble pronouncing the words.

To make matters worse, an almost nude picture of Mitey emerged online of him in a bathroom with just a towel on, barely covering his groin. Multiple students who followed the teacher were able to view the photo.

However, investigators still said Mitey shouldn’t be removed. But instead, Mitey became favored, especially by the principal of the high school.

LOMA principal Derek Premo, who has his own sexual harassment complaints against him, gave Mitey a prominent role at graduation.

Even though Mitey was able to keep his job for an entire year, the school recently let him go this past Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education made a statement saying, “these are extremely disturbing allegations and we are removing this teacher from the classroom pending the outcome of SCI’s investigation.”