Former Brooklyn DOE Employee Indicted for Stealing Approximately $111,000 From After-School Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 22, 2026

Former Brooklyn DOE Employee Indicted for Stealing Approximately $111,000 From After-School Program

Defendant Allegedly Wrote 153 Checks to Herself Over Six Years;
Spent Funds on Hotel Stays, Online Shopping

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District Anastasia Coleman today announced that a former Department of Education paraprofessional and director of an after-school program at a Cobble Hill elementary school has been indicted on charges that she stole more than $111,000 intended for school programs over a six-year period.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, "For more than six years, this defendant allegedly used her position of trust to systematically steal money meant to support the education and well-being of Brooklyn children. We will continue to hold accountable those who opt to line their pockets with money meant to enrich our communities."

Special Commissioner Coleman said, "School funds are entrusted to support students, families, and educational programs -not to be misappropriated for personal benefit. As alleged, the defendant improperly diverted funds over a period of years that were intended to serve the school community. SCI remains committed to holding individuals accountable for misconduct, and we appreciate the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office for prosecuting this matter and its efforts to protect the integrity of New York City's public schools."

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shalisha Jackson, 37, of Short Hills, New Jersey. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree grand larceny, third-degree grand larceny, petit larceny, second-degree forgery and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. The defendant was released without bail and ordered to return to court on August 12, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant allegedly began working for the New York City Department of Education in 2008 and served as the director of the after-school program at P.S. 146, also known as the Brooklyn New School, between 2016 and 2024. In that role, she was allegedly entrusted with control of the after-school program's bank account.

According to the investigation, between June 4, 2018 and October 9, 2024, Jackson allegedly wrote 153 checks from the after-school program account payable to herself totaling approximately $77,000.

It is alleged the defendant also deposited approximately 104 checks and Zelle payments from parents and school vendors totaling approximately $33,000 that were intended for the after-school program into her personal bank account.

Jackson allegedly used the funds intended for school programs for personal expenses, including hotel stays, liquor store purchases, payments to a real estate company specializing in luxury properties, auto finance payments and online purchases.

It is further alleged the defendant also deposited two checks belonging to Madiba Prep Middle School into her personal checking account, including a $714 check dated June 9, 2022 and a $320 check dated June 11, 2022. In total, the defendant allegedly stole approximately $111,000.

The District Attorney thanked Supervising Financial Investigator Vincent Jones, of the District Attorney's Investigations Division, and Assistant Supervising Investigator Bryan Trockel, of the Special Commissioner's Office, for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Pamela Lowe, of the District Attorney's Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant's guilt.

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