Brooklyn teacher showed explicit photos to three teenage girls: investigation

Brooklyn Teaching Assistant Accused of Inappropriate Conduct

A troubling case has emerged from a middle school in Brooklyn, where a teaching assistant allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with students. Amber Barnes reportedly showed explicit images and videos of herself to three teenage girls, as highlighted by a report from the New York City Schools Task Force.

This misconduct occurred during a Girls Empowerment Movement rally at JHS 218 in East New York back in November 2022. Initial awareness of the situation was raised after Barnes’ seventh-grade son was found sharing explicit material with classmates in the school locker room.

Things took a turn when some boys reported his actions to school administrators. One of the girls, having already seen some of her mother’s explicit images, remarked, “Like a mother, like a son,” which led to further investigations into Barnes’ conduct.

The investigation revealed incidents at GEM meetings where Barnes discussed “Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” She allegedly showed students a private photo of her breasts, asserting it was normal for women to have asymmetrical breasts. The students noted specific details, like her piercings and a particular “greenish” tattoo.

Interestingly, during a different GEM meeting, one girl admitted to having a sexual encounter that had been filmed and circulated. In a shocking response, Barnes reportedly told the girl not to feel embarrassed, claiming she had a sex tape as well, which she had shared with three other individuals.

Furthermore, two school staff members reported similar experiences, confirming that Barnes had shown them explicit photos and videos.

Barnes, who has been employed at JHS 218 since 2014, denied the accusations, claiming they stemmed from the girls’ fixation on food. However, the findings of the SCI report characterized her behavior as “unprofessional, inappropriate, and egregious,” eventually advising for her termination.

Since March 2023, she has been suspended without pay from her position, which had an annual salary of $50,000, and is no longer affiliated with New York City Public Schools.

Although Barnes faced three charges of child endangerment, the criminal case was ultimately dismissed and sealed. The Department of Education stated that “student safety is non-negotiable” in public schools.