July 23, 2026 QUEENS, NY A horrifying breach of public trust has been uncovered within the New York City school system after an official watchdog investigation confirmed that a veteran Queens educator targeted and sexually abused a teenage student over a two-year span.

The shocking findings, released by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District (SCI), detail years of non-consensual sexual assault and predatory text messaging inside an Ozone Park high school.

Years of Terror Inside the Classroom

According to the official report, Lennard Persaud, a long-time teacher at John Adams High School (101-01 Rockaway Blvd.), engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse on multiple occasions with a student while she was just 16 and 17 years old.

The systemic abuse occurred between 2014 and 2016, during the victim's junior and senior years.

Investigators launched a deep dive into the allegations in April 2023 after the former student bravely came forward. During the probe, authorities uncovered a mountain of disturbing evidence:

• Sexually Explicit Communications: SCI reviewed extensive text message logs containing explicit sexual content sent by Persaud to the teenager.

• Witness Testimony: Former classmates corroborated key details, recalling the victim experiencing severe emotional trauma—including frequent mental breakdowns and prolonged crying spells at school during the height of the abuse.

When approached by investigators, Persaud refused to be interviewed, attempting to invoke his tenured status.

Condemnation and Legal Loophole Frustrations

Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman released a blistering statement condemning the former teacher's actions:

“Lennard Persaud’s conduct was egregious, dangerous, and predatory, and he has no place working in a school or anywhere around children. Teachers are entrusted with the safety and well-being of their students, and anyone who exploits that trust and their position of authority over adolescents must be held accountable.”

Despite the severity of the charges—which initially led to a June 2023 NYPD arrest for third-degree rape, criminal sexual acts, and endangering the welfare of a child—Persaud managed to avoid jail time. In January 2024, he pleaded guilty to a minor violation of disorderly conduct and received a conditional discharge.

DOE Response & Official Next Steps

The Department of Education confirmed to news outlets that Persaud was immediately pulled from student contact once the allegations surfaced and is no longer employed by NYC Public Schools.