Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and New York State Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills announced earlier this week that Jericho assistant principal and Department of Education employee Isben Jeudy has been charged with Official Misconduct in connection with the mishandling of New York State Regents exams and answer keys.

Jeudy had previously submitted his resignation as the assistant principal at Jericho High School effective June 30, after he accepted a position as the Uniondale high school principal.

According to the New York State Department of Education, Jeudy was exclusively responsible for the administration of the most recent round of New York State Regents exams at the school. In mid-June, the defendant received the sealed Regents exams and answer keys, which were separately shrink-wrapped and contained in locked boxes. He was also provided the keys to the locked boxes under separate cover and was responsible for maintaining the security of those items.

Upon receipt of the locked boxes and the keys, it was the defendant's responsibility to inventory the sealed items, return them in a sealed condition to the locked boxes, and place the locked boxes in a designated vault, according to the State Department of Education. Each morning during the Regents exam period, the defendant was responsible for retrieving the appropriate locked box from the vault, opening the box, and, in the presence of the appropriate department head, unsealing and distributing the exams, after which the box would again be locked. Once the exam session had concluded, the defendant was responsible for opening the box, retrieving the sealed answer keys, and distributing the answer keys to the teachers responsible for grading that session's Regents exams.

On June 21, at approximately 9 a.m., the defendant's son was taking the Global History Regents Exam at John Glenn High School in Elwood when the proctor administering that exam allegedly observed writing on his hand. The writing on his hand was then compared with the answer key for the Global History exam, and the writing on his hand was allegedly found to be an exact copy of the answers to approximately 35 questions of that exam.

Shortly thereafter, Hank Grishman, superintendent of the Jericho School District was contacted. At approximately 9:45 a.m., well before the completion of the Global History Regents exam, Grishman asked Jeudy to unlock the Regents box. After the box was opened Grishman observed that the Global History exam answer keys were unsealed and were not contained in shrink-wrap.

Both Jericho and Elwood officials were commended by the Department of Education for their quick attention to this matter, where time was of the essence.

Jeudy pleaded not guilty earlier this week to an Official Misconduct charge in First District Court in Hempstead. He was released without bail on the charge, a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail, and ordered to reappear in court next month. The charges contained in the Criminal Court complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

At this time, State Officials have advised Jericho administrators that there is no reason to believe that the charge and allegations involve any other Jericho staff, students or community members. "This incident will not compromise the validity of any of our June Regents examinations," according to a statement issued by Grishman.

Jeudy was hired by the Uniondale School District in March as the principal of the high school. "When Isben Jeudy was hired by the Uniondale Union Free School District three and a half months ago, this was not an issue, nor had the Regents exams been given," said Dr. William Lloyd, superintendent of the Uniondale Union Free School District. "He is scheduled to assume his position on July 5. The school district and its legal council will review the issues being raised and take the appropriate actions after investigating the matter."

According to Jonathan Burman, spokesman for the New York State Department of Education, in a case like this, first there is an investigation done. "If we then have reason to believe that a person does not have the good moral character to continue holding his teaching or administrator's certificate, after an investigation is done and there is a need to go forward, there is a due process hearing before an impartial hearing officer who determines whether or not that person will continue to hold his license," said Burman.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Lesley Brovner, under the supervision of Janet Cohn, Chief of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. Investigator Kevin McCann participated in this investigation.