Ex-William Cullen Bryant high school student claims she had affair with assistant principal

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Pelagia Papoutsis, 33, was removed William Cullen Bryant high school
She allegedly had a relationship with a girl, who was a senior at the time
The girl has since graduated from the school in Long Island City, Queens
She confided in gym teacher Peter Maliarakis, who reported her complaint
'In hindsight, it was super obviously twisted and wrong,’ she told him

Published: 10:50 EST, 13 September 2015 | Updated: 19:14 EST, 13 September 2015

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Pelagia Papoutsis, 33, allegedly had a relationship with a female student who was 17 at William Cullen Bryant high school in Long Island City, New York

Authorities are investigating allegations that a female assistant principal had an affair with a 17-year-old girl, who was a high school student at the time.

Pelagia Papoutsis, 33, was removed from her post at William Cullen Bryant high school in Long Island City, Queens, by authorities on September 4.

The former math teacher, also known as ‘Pelly’, is accused of having a romantic relationship with the former student.

The student in question, who has since graduated, confided the affair to gym teacher Peter Maliarakis, who set up a rebellious Facebook group called ‘Things you never knew about Bryant High School’.

In Facebook messages to Maliarakis, she wrote: ‘Pelly was having inappropriate relations with a student.’

When he asked for proof or a witness, she admitted: ‘I’m the first hand witness because it was me.’

The girl, who did not want to be named, said the relationship started when she was 17 – which is the age of sexual consent in New York - and a senior at the school.

But she added that the pair continued to 'date' after she had graduated.

Adding that she has ‘tons of proof’, including e-mails, she said: ‘In hindsight, it was super obviously twisted and wrong.’

The former student also alleged Principal Dwarka was aware of the relationship but ‘played along’.

And Papoutsis allegedly also told another math teacher at the school that the student was her ‘dream girl’.

Maliarakis reported the allegations to Richard Condon, the special commissioner of investigation for the New York City school district, in July.

The student, who did not want to be named, sent messages to gym teacher Peter Maliarakis alleging that she had an affair with Papoutsis, who was known as 'Pelly'

He said authorities came to the school and escorted Papoutsis off the premises.

Maliarakis told DailyMail.com: ‘Students are being neglected a proper education and the principal and her inner circle loyalists are committing many crimes.

'They are getting away with it because the Department of Education and investigatory agencies are sweeping all investigations under the rug.

‘It’s the perfect corruption circle for all this to continue without consequence.’

Papoutsis was assistant principal at William Cullen Bryant high school (pictured) in Long Island City, Queens

The student alleged the principal Namita Dwarka (left) was aware of the relationship. She confided the affair to gym teacher Peter Maliarakis (right) who reported her complaint to the special commissioner of investigation for the New York City school district

Dwarka had promoted Papoutsis to assistant principal last year, giving her salary a boost from $75,796 in 2013 to $97,735, according to the New York Post.

Meanwhile, Maliarakis was removed from his position by the Department of Education in June for incompetence and insubordination.

After he refused to bring his class to work in a basement fitness room in September 2013 because he found it to be dirty and unsafe, he claims the principal forced Maliarakis to sit in a student desk inside the main office all day.

After he filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, they too found a number of issues.

A petition to reinstate him says: ‘He blew the whistle on unsanitary conditions to protect his students that lead to close to 100 retaliatory actions and was eventually removed from the classroom awaiting his termination hearing’.

Maliarakis added: ‘I am mortified that a person like me that follows federal law and protects his students gets crucified for doing my job.’

William Cullen Bryant recently made headlines due to a scandal which saw students claim they graduated despite not having the necessary credits to do so.

Melissa Mejia, 18, was shocked that she was passed in a Government class she had barely attended and was failed.

Mejia admitted she didn't deserve the diploma she received from William Cullen Bryant, but is attending Marymount Manhattan College this fall.

Students have also alleged that the school lets them cheat in summer school classes.

DailyMail.com has attempted to contact Papoutsis and Dwarka for comment.

Maliarakis was removed from his position for incompetence and insubordination. He claims the principal forced him to sit at a desk in the main office after he refused to take students into a basement fitness room