Walcott calls video disturbing. Schools spokeswoman calls disciplinary action taken against George Westinghouse Technical Education High School teacher Stephan Hudson was inadequate
By Ben Chapman / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott was “disturbed” by video of a hulking teacher pummeling a scrawny student at a Brooklyn school and will seek the teacher’s firing, a spokeswoman said.
A principal accused of covering up the beatdown at George Westinghouse Technical Education High School is expected to keep her job for now.
“The chancellor was disturbed by the video footage and believed the disciplinary action given to the teacher was inadequate,” said schools spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti, adding that the principal’s handling of the matter is under investigation.
The News on Wednesday exposed the shocking video of 15-year-old freshman Kristoff John taking a beating from teacher and security dean Stephan Hudson on March 6.
Hudson’s only punishment for brutally tossing Kristoff to the ground and bashing him into a table was a disciplinary letter to his personnel file from Principal Janine Kieran.
The boy’s mother Diane John says that Hudson told her it was Kristoff who attacked him, not the other way around. When she asked Kieran to investigate, the principal never called her back.
It wasn’t until the Daily News gave John a video that showed 300-pound Hudson giving Kristoff a thumping that she realized she’d been lied to by the school.
After seeing the exclusive clip, John called for Hudson’s job. Walcott had the same reaction.
Walcott says he’ll immediately begin the bureaucratic process to fire the tenured teacher who has worked in city schools since 1990.
Officials also plan to review Kieran’s actions.
The boy’s mother said she is considering a lawsuit against the city and wants to hear why Hudson beat her son — then lied about it.
“I’d love to hear his side of the story for real, and not some bogus lies,” she said.
Hudson did not respond to calls for comment, and Kieran has declined repeated requests for an interview.
Shortly after the altercation, Kristoff left Westinghouse and moved in with an aunt in his family’s native Grenada. His mom blames the beating for his departure.
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