A mindfulness program at an East Harlem elementary school has been abruptly cut short after city investigators said a yoga instructor inappropriately touched a 6‑year‑old student. The instructor, identified as 31‑year‑old Demetrius Napolitano, denies that anything he did crossed the line, even as school and city officials continue to review the findings. The situation is now fueling fresh questions about how outside contractors are brought into, and supervised inside, New York City classrooms.
Investigation cites improper contact and vetting lapse
The Special Commissioner of Investigation concluded that Napolitano "engaged in inappropriate touching" and faulted the school’s then‑principal, William Gladstone, for failing to fingerprint him when he was hired, a basic safeguard in city schools. Those missed steps, the commissioner said, weakened the very protections meant to keep children safe. "Napolitano's inappropriate conduct and Gladstone's failure to vet him demonstrate why safeguards must be taken seriously," the release stated, as reported by the New York Post. The findings stem from an internal probe into contractors who work inside Department of Education schools.
What teachers and the child’s foster mother told investigators
According to investigators, teachers reported that Napolitano gave the girl more attention than her classmates, bought her gifts and food, let her use his phone, held her hand in the hallway and carried her up stairs. The girl’s foster mother contacted the Special Commissioner on April 30, 2024, which triggered the inquiry, the report states. After the complaint, Napolitano was removed from P.S. 108 and a "problem code" was attached to his Department of Education file. Napolitano told investigators he did not believe his behavior was inappropriate, per reporting by the New York Post.
His program and ties to the school
Napolitano founded a nonprofit called Fostering Meditation that brought yoga and meditation sessions to P.S. 108 and other locations, with the program promoted as a way to help students handle stress and emotions. CBS New York profiled the effort in 2023, noting that Napolitano had returned to his former school to lead classes and mentor students. That history helps explain why the allegations have hit a nerve among families and staff who had viewed the program as a much‑needed support system.
What comes next
It is not yet public whether the investigation will result in any criminal referrals or additional administrative actions beyond the Department of Education steps already outlined in the report. The episode has renewed calls from some advocates for clearer, consistently enforced rules on fingerprinting, background checks and on‑site supervision whenever non‑DOE contractors work one‑on‑one with young children.
