Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
The Old Katrina Excuse
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 13, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 13, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It sounds bad enough that a teacher is lying to get out of teaching, but it sounds worse when the teacher uses "helping out Hurricane Katrina victims" as the excuse. James R. Thomas, who was a special education teacher at a Bronx public high school, admitted he falsely claimed the Air National Guard needed him, when in fact Thomas was going to Brazil. Thomas forged Air National Guard military orders saying he needed to help out with Hurricane Katrina relief. Thomas, who is also a pastor, had been able to secure leave for ANG purposes easily, but this past fall, the school asked for paperwork. We wonder if it's because of a Department of Education crackdown on teacher leave - remember the teacher who was a wrestler by night and claimed he was sick in order to work the wrestling circuit? The DoE must really vet sick leave!
The Department of Education will probably fire Thomas, but the teaches' union wonders if it's too harsh a punishment. He has already retired from the Air National Guard.
Tagged
bronx
education
fire
get out
high school
hurricane
Hurricane Katrina
James R
jen chung
katrina
military
national guard
News: NYC
The Department
The DOE
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
The NYPD arrested a mom and took her kids' Christmas gifts. She never got them back.
A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of making it hard for New Yorkers to reclaim seized belongings.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
News
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .