A tenured NYC teacher kept her job after Stewart Lee Karlin Law Group showed the DOE failed to meet its burden in a 3020-a termination case.

In In the Matter of Charges Preferred by the Department of Education of the City of New York against Paryss Sherman, the DOE sought termination based on allegations of incompetence, unprofessional conduct, and failure to follow school protocols. The case involved sixteen days of hearings, numerous observation reports, and multiple letters to file over two school years.

Through our firm’s advocacy, the evidence revealed critical flaws in the DOE’s case. Observations that lasted only minutes were used to support sweeping charges, while testimony from administrators was undermined by bias, inconsistencies, and factual errors. Notably, Ms. Sherman’s initiatives—such as introducing a teaching assistant program, leveraging Google Classroom for real-time assessments, and engaging students in complex literary themes—demonstrated professional dedication that was overlooked by evaluators.

The defense emphasized that Education Law § 3020-a requires proof of incompetence by a preponderance of the evidence and mandates consideration of whether deficiencies are remediable. Despite repeated critiques, the DOE failed to provide meaningful remediation, such as a Teacher Improvement Plan or targeted professional support. Instead, the record showed selective enforcement, personal animus from administrators, and reliance on uncorroborated student complaints.

Ultimately, the Hearing Officer rejected termination as a penalty, recognizing that the DOE had not established just cause. The decision underscores both the high standard required before stripping a tenured educator of her career and the importance of due process protections for teachers across New York City.

This outcome reinforces our firm’s commitment to ensuring that educators are not unfairly targeted or removed without proper evidence, process, and remediation.

Filed court documentation:
State Education Department – Education Law § 3020-a Hearing Decision