Local Teacher Charged with Sexual Abuse

Esran Boothe, a 49-year-old gym teacher at Brooklyn Academy for Science and the Environment, has been arrested for inappropriately touching one of his students, police say.

The incident in question took place when Boothe allegedly grabbed a student's buttocks during school hours, reports the New York Times. 

Boothe was put on desk duty following his arrest, and schools chancellor Dennis Walcott vowed to have him fired.

"A staff member who violates the trust of our students and families does not deserve to work in our schools — period,” Walcott said in a statement. “Anyone who does will be removed and we will do everything in our power to make sure they never work here again.”

According to the Daily News, there have been at least fifteen DOE employees arrested and charged in 2012—more than all of last year. At least seven of the arrest have been on charges of sexual nature, prompting the city to review all of their employees who have been flagged for inappropriate behavior.

Brooklyn Academy of Sciences and the Environment is located on President Street and Classon Ave.