Midtown Principal Accused Of Pushing Out Jewish Teachers: Report

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A Midtown Manhattan public school principal has been accused of forcing out Jewish and white teachers in multiple federal lawsuits, according to reports.

At least three former or current teachers at the High School of Art and Design on East 56th Street accused principal Manuel Ureña of systematically replacing white and Jewish educators since taking over at the school in 2016, the Post first reported.

Ureña, who is Dominican, allegedly fabricated disciplinary and performance complaints in order to force out teachers, the lawsuits claim. When white and Jewish teachers were ousted from the school, the would be replaced by Hispanic and Latino teachers, according to the federal lawsuits.

The lawsuits were brought against Ureña by teachers Peter Cohn, Todd Young, Maya Zabar and Gregory Agosto the Post first reported.

"I think he hates us," Cohn told the Post. The former teacher also said morale at the school is low and that white teachers "walked around with a target on your back."

Ureña is receiving support from the school's parent teacher association, which claims that the principal is popular among the staff and the lawsuits are being filed by disgruntled former employees, the Post reported. The Department of Eductation told the Post the allegations are being taken seriously.

Read the full New York Post article here.

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