Tag Archive for: Teacher

Teacher From Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Teen’s Social Media: Feds

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Yorktown resident and teacher Giuseppi Micciari, age 27, was arrested on child pornography charges and presented in White Plains federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced. 

According to federal officials, Micciari’s arrest followed a review of his cell phone conducted by authorities that revealed the existence of several videos and pictures containing child sexual abuse material. 

The review of Micciari’s phone also revealed that he had used an application called Telegram, an Internet and cloud-based instant messaging service that allows users to exchange messages, share files, and hold private calls. 

Some communications contained in the Telegram app on Micciari’s phone included a request for an “account hack” of a student’s Snapchat account, in addition to a question from an individual that read, “what age teen content you have.” Micciari’s alleged reply to this was, “there one big Mega 10-17,” according to officials.

Micciari was identified as a teacher by a US passport application submitted in connection with the issuance of his passport. Authorities did not release information on where he is or has been employed.

Micciari is now charged with: 

  • One count of receipt and distribution of child pornography;
  • One count of possession of child pornography.

Both counts carry a maximum prison term of 20 years, officials said.

New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ivan Arvelo said that Micciari took advantage of his position as a teacher and should “face just consequences” for his actions. 

“Giuseppi Micciari was entrusted with our most vulnerable segment of society – our children. His alleged depraved acts betrayed that trust,” Arvelo said.


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Jacksonville teacher raises concerns over new school safety app feature – Action News Jax

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There are new concerns tonight about a school safety app that is set to launch in local schools in just weeks. The school safety app allows teachers to report issues no matter how big or small.

I spoke to a teacher who says one feature may cause delays in an emergency.

Now Duval County Schools Safety app’s lead focus is to help teachers identify possible threats. But one DCPS teacher has concerns about how often the app makes you update your password.

The school safety app is called Raptor Alert.

“We’re supposed to be able to use this app to communicate because we can’t always be next to a telephone,” says the teacher.

This teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous over job concerns, says having to update your password at inconvenient times could mean the difference between life and death.

“If there’s an emergency, for instance how many of us are going to remember at that moment what our school password is because we have to change that every 90 days,” says the teacher.

Other local counties using the same app do not require a password update. Now it is an option to change your password before that 90-day deadline is up. The teacher thinks there are more convenient options.

“When you look at your phone and your face unlocks it,” says the teacher.

She’s talking about facial recognition.

A DCPS representative explains why passwords are necessary saying, “It’s to protect against hackers and other computer security threats.”

They also added that “updates to the app would not be pushed during school operating hours.”

So in the case of an emergency teachers would not be interrupted in any way.

The teacher also notes that no one has shown her how to use the app, but DCPS tells me that teachers do have access to online training resources and documentation about how to use the app.

Another concern? With all the devices in a school, the teacher says she worries about signal strength when using the app.

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Plum High teacher among newest crop of state certified computer science educators

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Plum High School math teacher Tamar McPherson recently joined an elite group of educators dedicated to the future of technology-based learning.

She is one of 38 teachers in the state to become certified in computer science grades 7-12 through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The professional development opportunity was made possible through the state’s PAsmart initiative.

Created by Gov. Tom Wolf, PAsmart provides resources on educational training opportunities focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“PDE is committed to providing certification pathways for educators interested in attaining their computer science certification,” said Kendall Alexander, department spokesperson.

McPherson said she sought the certification to better educate young learners and grow Plum’s computer science program.

“It’s important,” she said. “With everything being digitized, everything being related to computers somehow, I think that it’s important that some kids get experience. They may not all be software engineers, but they can work in information technology or information science or cyber security. There are a lot of different fields that they can get into.”

Math was something that came easy to McPherson.

“The running joke when I was a little kid was, ‘Just call her ‘Doctor’ and get it over with,’” she said. “It was something they said when I was 8 (years old).”

McPherson graduated from Pittsburgh’s Allderdice High School in 1994 and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999.

She would go on to work for years as a engineer in research and development for a biomedical company that made materials for hip and knee implants before becoming a teacher.

High school Principal Joe Fishell said district is lucky to have McPherson on its roster.

“Mrs. McPherson is an amazing teacher who has worked tirelessly for her students.” Fishell said. “She saw an opportunity to lead her department in this area and was confident that she could accomplish great things. What an inspiration to her students and colleagues. I extend my greatest congratulations to her.”

McPherson joined the…

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Cyberattack cripples NYC DOE’s teacher disciplinary system

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A ransomware attack has crippled the city’s teacher discipline system, The Post has learned.

A contractor that provides hearing transcripts for the city Department of Education, the Ubiqus Group, said it “was hit by a  ransomware-type cybersecurity incident” on Dec. 4.

 “As a precautionary measure, we have shut down all our IT systems across all our operating sites,” the company announced on its website. 

In a ransomware attack, hackers seize a user’s data, folders or device until a “ransom” fee is paid. A DOE spokeswoman would not say whether a ransom had been demanded.

Pending a probe, the cyberattack shut down NYC termination hearings for tenured  educators accused of incompetence or misconduct.

 “This is serious. Transcripts are the lifeblood of these hearings,” said Betsy Combier, a paralegal who defends teachers and a blogger who first reported the malware attack. “You can’t do anything without the transcripts, you can’t do a closing. You can’t decide a case.”

Combier said she called the state Education Department and was told that a “forensic cyberteam” is investigating.

The city DOE said Ubiqus is contracted by the state. A spokeswoman could not immediately say how many hearings have been held up.

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