January 15, 2026 The whistle has blown on a New York City educator, but it wasn't for a foul on the court—it was for a disturbing alleged betrayal of trust that has left a Brooklyn community reeling.

On Wednesday afternoon, while students were likely finishing lunch or heading to their next period, the NYPD descended upon the 78th Precinct to take one of the city's own into custody. The man in the center of the storm? Michael Boitano, a 40-year-old physical education teacher entrusted with the health and safety of New York’s youth.

The Charges That Have Parents Terrified

This wasn't a routine administrative dispute. The charges leveled against Boitano are every parent's worst nightmare. According to police, the veteran PE teacher is facing a litany of crimes that strike at the heart of student safety:

• Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors: Allegations of sending explicit or inappropriate content to children.

• Endangering the Welfare of a Child: A charge that suggests a direct threat to the physical or mental well-being of a student.

• Official Misconduct by a Public Servant: Using his position of authority within the school system to allegedly facilitate these crimes.

Arrested on the Clock

Perhaps most chilling is the timing. Boitano was hauled away at 12:55 p.m.—right in the middle of the school day. While the specific school has not been formally named in the initial police report, the arrest within the 78th Precinct (which covers neighborhoods like Park Slope and Prospect Heights) suggests the incident hit close to home for many Brooklyn families.

The Department of Education Responds

The NYC Department of Education (DOE) is currently under fire as the public demands to know how an educator could allegedly operate this way under their watch. As of Wednesday evening, the DOE has remained tight-lipped, failing to provide a formal comment on Boitano’s current employment status or whether he had prior disciplinary issues.

For now, a man who was supposed to be a role model in the gymnasium is sitting in a jail cell, leaving parents to wonder: Who is really watching our children?