Crown Heights Principal Accused Of Years Of Bullying Replaced

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOLKYN — A Crown Heights principal accused of years of misconduct and bullying has been removed after 17 years running the school.

Department of Education administrators announced Tuesday that Karen Hambright-Glover, who has run P.S. 243 since 2005, has been replaced by an acting principal, according to a letter sent by the Brooklyn North Borough Office.

The change in leadership comes several weeks after the Community Education Council for the district demanded Hambright-Glover's removal, citing years of complaints including emails and text messages that surfaced this year.

"Removing Principal Hambright-Glover is the first step towards ensuring a safe learning space for all members of the P.S. 243 school community," the CEC wrote in an update to the district. "It is now a priority to address the trauma that staff, families, and students are left to face."

The longtime principal will be replaced by acting principal Judith James, who most recently served as the special instructional liaison in District 16, according to the borough office letter. James has also worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Brooklyn and Queens.

"Superintendent Yolanda Martin and I are confident that Ms. James will provide stellar leadership to the school community," Executive Superintendent Karen Watts wrote. "Superintendent Martin and I will continue to support and supervise P.S. 243 during this transition and beyond in all instructional and operational areas."

Hambright-Glover had been accused of creating a "hostile and unprofessional work environment" at P.S. 243, both with text messages and in-person comments, according to the District 16 CEC vote in December.

In the text messages — which Hambright-Glover sent to her colleagues — she refers to her subordinates as "broke and thirsty," "dumb, fat b****," "so stupid," "stupid f***" and other crude terms, according to the resolution.

The most recent complaints come after similar concerns about Hambright-Glover surrounding a social media post in 2015 referring to a student as "the monkey you made," CBS2 News reported at the time.

CEC officials said this week that they will continue to fight for the families at the school, including urging "restorative justice circles" and investigating any accusations against others in the school. Patch has reached out to learn more about other allegations.

"The wrongs must be identified, brought to light, and made right," the council wrote. "Anyone in the school who also carries allegations of wrongdoing must be fully investigated. Our district deserves better and the CEC 16 will not give up and will continue to fight for all of our families."