Monday, June 16, 2025
Legal papers were filed April 8 alleging a former special education teacher with the West Hempstead school district physically and verbally assaulted students at Cornwell Avenue Elementary School. The parents who filed the legal notice said that during the 2023-24 school year their child was locked in a dark closet, humiliated, punched and kicked by special education teacher John O’Dwyer.
“This was kind of ongoing and pervasive behavior. This was a classroom environment that was predatory, and this special education teacher was abusive to a lot of different people,” said Nathan Werksman, a partner at Merson Law, who is representing six children who allege they were abused in O’Dwyer’s classroom.
“He would physically hurt them,” Werksman added. “He would taunt them, humiliate them, shame them. And one student in particular was dragged by the wrist into a dark closet by the special education teacher, who would then hold the door closed as the child, a seven-year-old, would bang, and scream, and kick on the door to try and get out.”
West Hempstead Union Free School District Superintendent Daniel Rehman, responded in a written statement, “The district is aware of these allegations and has taken all appropriate steps in reporting the claims to the necessary agencies.”
On March 6, a letter was sent to parents to inform them that the district was investigating the alleged abuse and filed a report with the Nassau County Police Department. Rehman stressed O’Dwyer no longer works for the district.
The family who filed this notice of claim is asking for $22 million from the district to settle this case.
