By Yusra Javed
When parents inevitably send their children off to school, they do it with trust in the institution. They trust that their children will be safe. They trust that the school is an environment of learning and growth. They trust that their children will be protected from harm. Teachers, administrators, and school staff are figures of authority because families believe in them to act in students’ best interests. That is why news, like the recent discovery of Queens principal William Bassel having sexually abused the students and staff at the Academy of American Studies, is particularly disturbing.
According to reports, Bassell has reignited concerns about how educational institutions handle allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in general involving school officials. Despite being accused of sexual abuse and misconduct with staff members and a former student, prosecutors are considering dropping the charges against Bassell if he retires.1 How can schools be entrusted to educate and protect vulnerable students from danger if they cannot hold abusers accountable and are not doing enough to prevent abuse before it occurs?
Children are especially defenseless in schools because all they have known is that schools are trustworthy institutions, where they go to learn. Considering faculty and students are in such close quarters during the day, teachers, administrators, coaches, and principals may develop close relationships with the children and their parents to build a form of trust. While this could help students better adjust to school settings because of a supportive environment, such relationships can be, unfortunately, exploited.
Recognizing the Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
Previous research and litigation show how perpetrators are not random people, but rather individuals whom children know personally. Many incidents of child abuse involve authority figures such as educators, coaches, religious leaders, or caregivers.2
These individuals are trusted by families and students, so they are not the first suspects when an allegation of child abuse arises. Because of this, it is crucial to be aware of the signs that indicate child abuse. The trust and the power imbalance that exists between students and these figures of authority may lead students to feel obligated to comply. In turn, this may make them fear the consequences of coming forward to report what happened. Some of these signs are:
- Sudden behavioral changes
- Anxiety, depression, or fear around certain people
- Declining academic performance
- Self-harm or emotional outbursts
- Reluctance to attend school or extracurricular activities
Although one sign alone does not mean that abuse definitely occurred, sudden changes in a child’s behavior should not be ignored.3
Institutional Responsibility and Negligence
The allegations against Bassell are not the first of their kind. Across the country, schools, healthcare organizations, foster care systems, and religious institutions have faced scrutiny for not investigating complaints in a timely manner, ignoring warning signs of abuse, and allowing individuals with the propensity to abuse continued access to children. Instead of holding Bassell accountable for his misconduct, his charges could potentially be dropped in exchange for his retirement.4 Institutions like schools have an obligation to protect children by conducting proper background checks, supervising staff appropriately, responding to complaints, and reporting allegations to the authorities. When an institution is unable to fulfill these responsibilities, as in Bassell’s case, it can be held liable for negligence.
Taking Action
Parents and guardians should document concerns, preserve as many pieces of evidence as possible, and report allegations to law enforcement if a child reveals any signs of abuse. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse could also have legal options. If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse in a school or institutional setting, you may have legal rights. Contact our team for a confidential consultation to learn more about your options and whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation.
References
- Potter, Will. 2026. “Fears $226k-a-year principal dubbed ‘Creepy Bill’ over serial sex abuse claims could have charges DROPPED if he retires.” Daily Mail, May 3, 2026. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15785417/New-York-principal-William-Bassell-charges-dropped-retires.html.
- “NYC School Sexual Abuse Lawyer.” Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP. https://www.rheingoldlaw.com/nyc-child-sexual-abuse-lawyer/school-sexual-abuse-lawyer/.
- “Signs of Sexual Abuse.” n.d. Early, Open, Often. https://www.earlyopenoften.org/get-the-facts/signs-of-sexual-abuse/.
- Senzamici, Peter. 2026. “NYC principal dubbed ‘Creepy Bill’ could dodge sex-abuse raps and keep pension under special deal: ‘Troubling and infuriating.’” New York Post, May 4, 2026. https://nypost.com/2026/05/04/us-news/nyc-principal-dubbed-creepy-bill-could-dodge-sex-abuse-raps/.
