A female teaching assistant has been found engaging in sexual activities with a student on multiple occasions during lunch breaks, according to investigators. Identified as Ocean Valentine, aged 22, she has been suspended without pay from Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine in New York following allegations of inappropriate behavior with a student. The 17-year-old student involved received explicit texts from Valentine and their encounters extended beyond school premises. A report by the New York Post revealed that sexual contact took place at the student’s parents’ home while school was in session.
Valentine’s suspension without pay was accompanied by an announcement from the school about a separate investigation into another alleged sexual relationship between a male staff member and a female student. The illicit connection between Valentine and the student began when she initiated contact in May 2022 by sharing her Instagram account with him. Their communication escalated to a sexual nature after exchanging phone numbers.
The student, whose identity has not been disclosed, admitted to skipping school on several occasions to meet with Valentine. They would leave the school premises during lunch hours to engage in sexual intercourse at the student’s apartment nearby. The police investigation was initiated after a female student discovered incriminating messages and a hotel receipt on the student’s phone.
Despite being under investigation, Valentine attempted to maintain contact with the student by sending messages, prompting concerns regarding her behavior. The Department of Education emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and student safety by adhering to social media policies that discourage personal interactions with enrolled students. The enforcement of these standards is crucial to upholding the integrity of employee-student relationships within the NYC Public Schools system.