Tension & fury sparked among the New York residents recently. According to an investigator, Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education took her family members on Disney trips meant for ‘homeless’ students.
Six NYC DOE regional managers & employees used ‘forged permission slips’ allegedly to take their own kids to Disney World.
And not just that!
Their destinations also included several city-funded trips to Washington D.C., New Orleans, & others from the years 2016 to 2019.
The DOE Regulations & Linda’s Offence
The DOE regulations are strict about all Disney trips having an educational purpose & valid permission slips. Also, it clearly states that the DOE staff can not take their family members for any trip despite reimbursement.
Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education booked the trips with the help of an outside vendor, says one investigator. Despite being aware of the regulations, Linda Wilson NYC Education adopted this unfair means & it provoked the netizens’s criticism.
The Scrutinized Investigations & Outcomes
Further allegations came forward as Wilson claimed that the trips were supposed to be college visiting tours for homeless students. However, the investigators reported that no such formal visit took place ever under the supervision of Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education. Also, the colleges did not have any prior information stating the purpose of these trips.
They referred back to an incident in 2018. The DOE staff allegedly claimed that they made a tour of Syracuse University. But, in reality, they just had their lunch at the university campus & went to Niagara Falls.
The statement of Anastasia Coleman, Special Commissioner of Investigation of New York City Schools has left citizens under real shock. He has opened up about it convicting Linda Wilson, the regional manager of Queens Students in Temporary Housing.
The Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education Scam
According to a news report, she not only brought her two daughters but also let other DOE employees bring theirs. Since the Disney trips were funded by grants to help homeless students, Wilson forged the permission slips in other students’ names.
The situation got a worse turn for her when it was revealed that Wilson asked the staff to “lie to the investigators” to make it up. She goes one step further by telling her co-workers “What happens here stays with us.”
Also, Wilson advised her colleagues that “everyone should stick to the same story…”. She thought if everyone would say “that we did not take our children on the trip”, they would be safe.
To add to it, one DOE educator was unjustifiably forced to “beg Wilson” to take two of his students on the Disney trip. However, “The truth can’t be hidden for long” & the scam was eventually exposed.
The Granted Disney Trips!
In Disney Land, a mere bus ride costs around $2700 & a trip for 50 adults or kids alone costs $66000. Considering the high expense of Disney World trips, some NYC disadvantageous students were provided an opportunity to explore the “Magic Kingdom.”
NYC paid a $300,000 federal grant from the National Center for the Disney trips to encourage homeless students. The students were permitted for multiple-day trips to Washington DC, New Orleans, Boston, Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, & Frost Valley YMCA campground. But, Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education deprived the deserving candidates of this inspiring initiative by wrong means.
Linda’s Roles & Reactions
Wilson was in charge of shortlisting the staff members eligible for Disney trips & assigning students to each one of them. But, she did not perform her responsibilities with due diligence & honesty, according to the SCI. Also, she canceled a trip to Philadelphia in 2018 upon being asked to process the payments through a contractor.
Wilson denied all these allegations & blamed DOE’s “checks and balances” for the mismanagement. Also, she sarcastically called the SCI “a witch hunt” making fun of their serious efforts to investigate such issues. She adds further that she has retired from DOE & not terminated.
The Repurcussion for Others
Other accused DOE employees in Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education scam include Mishawn Jack, Shaquieta Boyd, Virgen Ramos, Maria Sylvester, & Joanne Castro.
Boyd expressed her anger towards Wilson after being fired & stated that “she encouraged it.” The NYC DOE also fired the attendance teacher, Jack in September 2023 & he agreed to pay the fine of $1,200.
The SCI did not move ahead with referring this scam for criminal prosecution due to “lack of available documentation.” However, Jenna Lyle, the DOE spokeswoman stated that “All staff identified in this report are no longer employed by New York City Public Schools.”
The Netizens’ Reactions
The social media platforms are flooded with public criticism followed by the scam reveal concerning Linda Wilson NYC Dept of Education. Naveed Hassan, a Manhattan public school parent & the city’s Panel member for Educational Policy is utterly shocked by this ill practice.
Instagram is full of judgmental comments by global citizens expressing their fear, disgust, & hopelessness. “They will be our next democratic senators!”, says someone.
An Instagram user mocked them by saying “This is why these democrats are fighting to stay in power so hard.” Another Instagram follower comments, “Typical DEI behavior” & so on!
Though “Few of the homeless students listed on the paperwork actually attended the trips”, according to the whistleblower, Linda is highly criticized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who is the head of NYC DOE?
Ans: Christina Foti is the chief of Special Education for NYCPS.
Q2. Who is the commissioner of NYC DOE?
Ans: Betty A. Rosa is the education commissioner & president of the State of New York University.
Q3. Who is the NYC DOE Chancellor at present?
Ans: Melissa Aviles-Ramos is the Chancellor of NYCPS.
