Exploitation and Betrayal: NYC Teacher Allegedly Engages in Sexual Relationship with Vulnerable, Mentally Ill Student
A former NYC biology teacher is under investigation in both The Bronx and Staten Island amid allegations that she engaged in a prolonged sexual relationship with a mentally ill 16-year-old student who attended a school for children with special needs. The accused, Sandy Carazas-Pinez, is 33 years old, married, and a mother of three. The accusations against her involve sexual acts with the student in her car on at least a dozen occasions, along with the exchange of nude and erotic photographs and inappropriate text messages, as per the allegations made by the boy’s mother and documents obtained by The New York Post.
Police and district attorney investigators are said to have compiled significant evidence in the form of texts sent between the teacher and the student at all hours. The alleged victim attended the Biondi School in Yonkers, which is run by the nonprofit organization Rising Ground and was funded by the New York City Department of Education. The accused teacher was terminated from her position at the school earlier this month.
The allegations have raised serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable children with mental health issues and the handling of such cases by school authorities. The victim’s mother has condemned the alleged actions of the teacher, calling them “the rape of a child with a mental illness.” She has also urged society to prioritize the safety of children with mental health problems and those who have been sexually assaulted, stating that it is imperative to ensure their protection and well-being.
Prior to her position at the Biondi School, Carazas-Pinez taught at PS/MS 007 in Harlem and PS/IS 218 in The Bronx. The New York City Department of Education has declined to comment on the matter, while one officer investigating the case is reported to have made a crass joke, saying, “Where were those teachers when I was in high school?” The seriousness of the allegations against the former teacher demands a thorough investigation and appropriate action to be taken to ensure that justice is served and that vulnerable children are protected.
