Stuyvesant principal Stanley Teitel is set to resign amid a cheating scandal that rocked the elite New York City public school, the New York Times’ School Book blog reports.
Teitel posted his letter of resignation on the school’s website on Aug. 3, and will step down prior to the start of the 2012-13 school year:
August 2012
Dear Students, Faculty, Parents and Alumni,
I have decided to retire as of September 1, 2012 after serving as Stuyvesant’s principal for thirteen years. It is time to devote my energy to my family and personal endeavors.
I began my career as a NYC teacher forty-one years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving in each capacity as teacher, assistant principal and principal.
Thank you to the Stuyvesant community for all of the satisfaction you have afforded me for the last twenty-nine years. It was a genuine pleasure to have served you.
Fondly,
Stan Teitel
In June, 16-year-old Stuyvesant junior Nayeem Ahsan was caught using a cell phone to take pictures of the state’s Regents exams and distribute test answers to more than 50 classmates. As a result of the incident, 71 students had to retake their exams, with six students including Ahsan facing suspensions, the New York Daily News reports.
At the time, Teitel sent a letter to dozens of students implicated in the cheating ring, alerting them that some of their class privileges would be revoked.
According to the New York Post, Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said a probe would look into not just the cheating, but also why the administration waited almost a week to notify the Department of Education.
A DOE spokeswoman declined to say whether Teitel's retirement was connected to the probe, only that the investigation is ongoing. Officials say they will name a replacement early this week.