Queens school honchos in sex-spy drama

A veteran public-schools superintendent resigned yesterday after being outed for having a two-year affair with a subordinate.

Queens High Schools Superintendent Francesca Peña -- who has worked for the city's public schools for 28 years, was snared in a probe of her illicit flame, Randolph HS Assistant Principal Milciades "Mayo" Pepin.

School investigators found that Pepin had used hidden software to spy on the e-mails and smartphones of Peña and three male principals whom he apparently viewed as competition -- including his supervisor, Randolph HS Principal Henry Rubio.

Their probe also showed that Pepin had helped Peña install similar spyware on her husband's phone in 2008.

Peña subsequently caught her husband, Ramon, cheating, and then sparked up the romance with Pepin, according to the report.

"This had bizarre aspects to it," said Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard Condon,

Meh!..................Not Guilty!

Washington, DC. – The New York City Department of Education, the largest public school system in the United States of America, appointed Dominican American National Roundtable Vice President for Membership Ms. Francesca Peña as High Schools Superintendent of Queens, the most diverse, the largest in area and the second largest in population (over 2 million people) of the five boroughs of the City of New York.

“On behalf of the Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR) the only non-profit, non-partisan corporation advocating on behalf of over 2 million Dominicans in the United States and Puerto Rico, I would like to congratulate Ms. Francesca Peña, our DANR Vice President for Membership for her appointment as Queens High School Superintendent,” said Néstor Montilla, President and Chairman of the DANR. “Gracias Francesca por poner el nombre de todos los dominicanos y dominico-americanos en alto con tus logros profesionales e intachable carrera en el sistema educativo de escuelas públicas más grande de los Estados Unidos de América.”

“As I embark in my new endeavor today as Queens High School Superintendent, I look forward to supporting all of our school communities in our collective mission to ensure our students receive a quality, first rate education in every classroom, where students are challenged to think critically and are engaged in meaningful learning experiences,” said Ms. Peña in a written statement sent to her school principals.

“In my role as your Superintendent, I am very enthusiastic and committed to continue to guide you in collaboration with your Network Team in making “High leverage Instructional Decisions” always pondering on the What, Who, How and How Well, and most importantly that we continue to create schools where we would send our own children,” she said.

Ms. Peña, a Dominican woman with humble upbringings who was born in the Province of San Francisco de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, now administers all public schools in Queens, where 46% (roughly 1 million people) of Queens residents were born outside of the U.S. According to official reports, the foreign-born population of Queens represents over 100 nations, which makes Queens the most diverse place in the entire world. Other boroughs and counties in the U.S. have greater percentages of foreign-born residents, but nowhere else do they represent so many different countries, ethnicities, and cultures.

New York City High School Superintendents (in charge of supervising K-12 schools) oversee and support schools as assigned by the Chancellor. High School Superintendents perform statutory duties for schools, including appointing principals, approving teacher tenure decisions, and acting as rating officer for principals. These Superintendents also serve as liaisons to the citywide High School Education Council. In addition, all community superintendents supervise District Family Advocates and borough directors. These employees co-report to the Chief Family Engagement Officer and are responsible for helping families find answers.

Ms. Pena graduated from the School of Engineering at the City College of New York of The City University of New York in 1985. Obtained a M.S. in Mathematics from the City College of New York as well and a M.A. in Administration and Supervision from Baruch College in 2004.

(Translated from Spanish Biography)

Francesca Peña is a visionary leader, respected and valued by other leaders.

Undoubtedly, the courage of her temperament, her commitment and dedication to her many students and vitality as the leader of many supervisors have earned a place of enormous prestige among the educational authorities of the City of New York. Since the beginning of her career, Ms. Peña has been reflected in their pedagogical functions a clear purpose, reflecting its high academic goals. This sharp talent, in turn, has led a consistent and tangible motivation among hundreds of students, educators and administrators.

In considering the origins of this teacher, we would send in a note to try to expose a short biography about her life, Ms. Peña was born in a small agricultural village in the Dominican Republic. Her first educational experience, therefore, goes back to a tiny rural school.

Remarkably, her large family appreciated this first experience greatly and at all times supported the intellectual development of the small student.

At age 15, a teenager, Francesca and her family emigrated to New York City and settled in the neighborhood of Washington Hts. Overcoming the many difficulties which undoubtedly had to face in leaving behind her country and everything that was familiar and known, continued her secondary education at school George Washington High School.

In undertaking her studies, she enrolled at City College, one of the universities in the CUNY system, and then graduated with a bachelor's degree (BS) in engineering.

Later in the same university she obtained a master's degree in mathematics and expanding their academic horizons by other routes, earned a second master's degree in administrative supervision at Baruch College.

As for her experiences in the workplace, noting that Ms. Pena entered the private system for several years before discovering her passion for teaching careers.

From the early years of the 90s, began working as a math teacher at Washington Irving High School in New York City. His enthusiasm, charisma and above all, its huge motivation was, without doubt, a decisive influence on the lives of their students. Because of its many achievements, received in the first year of his teaching career in the prestigious "Teacher of the Year."

In 1999, her former high school (George Washington) had to be restructured because of the deterioration that had plunged the negligence and cynicism. Francesca was part of the committee to carry out the restructuring of the aforementioned stock, and under his guidance, the project has achieved an extraordinary success: the old school was divided into four new schools.

Two years after the project ended, Ms. Peña was appointed as director of "The International School of Business and Finance", a school that replaced the old George Washington. In her new role as director, initiated innovative and ambitious reforms, which in turn, transformed the school into one of the most successful of New York City.

Since 2003, the squad headed by Ms. Peña was part of a select group of schools designated as "Schools of higher academic performance" of New York system.

In 2004, the Chancellor of Education Francesca Peña chose as Superintendent of Academic Instruction in elementary schools, three middle and high school districts.

Beginning in 2005, was appointed Superintendent of School District Number 6, function successfully held until 2007.

Francesca served as superintendent in charge of 65 schools in Manhattan.

Also was president of the Association of Supervisors and Administrators Dominicans (ADAS). The mission of this organization is to promote development and professional competence of its members. For more information on ADAS, visit: www.adasa.org.

In reflecting on the many facets that make up the life of the educator, is imperative to emphasize that her achievements in the world of education will undoubtedly have become a paradigm of dedication and professional success. As a visionary leader, her life has come to become the reliable reflection of her effective leadership and its impressive reputation.

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