Staten Island principal removed from job by DOE just weeks after appointment: Source

"Joseph O'Brien, was officially welcomed to the school community in a Sept. 8 letter from Superintendent Roderick Palton. O'Brien replaced Elmer Myers, who retired after 10 years at the school. But according to concerned parents who reached out to the Advance/SILive.com, O'Brien was relieved of his duties last week. An official with knowledge of the situation confirmed the removal, noting O'Brien is currently no longer in a leadership position at the school."

"The city Department of Education did not provide a reason for O'Brien's removal, nor did it state whether the move was permanent. The DOE referred to O'Brien's removal as a "transition." "The superintendent and district team are on site at PS 3, providing support and ensuring consistent leadership," the DOE noted in a statement to the Advance/SILive.com on Thursday. "At no time was student safety at risk, and the school community will continue to be fully supported during this transition.""

Joseph O'Brien was appointed principal at PS 3, the Margaret Gioiosa School in Pleasant Plains, in a Sept. 8 letter from Superintendent Roderick Palton, replacing Elmer Myers, who retired after ten years. Less than one month after taking the position, O'Brien was relieved of his duties and is no longer in a leadership role at the school, according to an official. The Department of Education called the move a "transition," declined to give a reason or say whether it is permanent, and said the superintendent and district team are on site providing support and that student safety was never at risk. O'Brien had more than two decades of service in New York City Public Schools and had been deputy superintendent in Brooklyn's District 21 just before the assignment.

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