A 22-year-old teaching assistant at Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine in New York has been suspended without pay for engaging in sexual activities with a 17-year-old student during lunch breaks. The assistant, Ocean Valentine, is accused of having sexual encounters with the student on multiple occasions, including sending explicit texts and meeting outside of school hours. The New York Post reported that the encounters took place at the student’s home during school hours.
Following the incident, Valentine was suspended, and the school is now investigating another alleged inappropriate relationship between a male staff member and a female student. The inappropriate relationship between Valentine and the student reportedly started when she shared her Instagram account with him in May 2022, leading to exchanges of sexual messages.
The student, who remained unidentified, confessed to skipping school to meet with Valentine on several occasions. They were reported to have left the school premises during lunch breaks to engage in sexual activities at the student’s apartment. The police investigation was initiated after a female student discovered messages and evidence on the student’s phone.
Despite being under investigation, Valentine reportedly tried to maintain contact with the student, prompting concerns about the safety and well-being of students. The Department of Education emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and following social media policies to ensure the safety of students within NYC Public Schools.