By: Marty Raminoff

The principal of PS 166, on the Upper West Side, is meeting criticism for banning sweets at the elementary school, and for an overall “pattern of toxicity”.

As reported by the NY Post, more than 60 parents penned a letter complaining about Debra Mastriano, 66.  The letter says that the principal once stopped a kindergartner from eating a piece of birthday cake from his home-packed lunch because she thought the student was overweight.  The slender educator has no tolerance for snacks, with multiple reports that she prohibited other students from eating donuts or treats sent in their lunch boxes by their parents.  Insiders also told the Post, that Mastriano confiscated Department of Education-sanctioned potato chips from the cafeteria and hid them.  “It was just so Grinch-like,” one educator said.

At an October staff meeting, the principal was reportedly confronted for the snack bans. She defended her actions, saying it was “one time,” and that she “want[ed] them to be healthy, want[ed] them to have a good day. It was one child, one time,” according to notes from the meeting obtained by The Post.  Teachers also have their own list of gripes against Mastriano. The school educators say the principal micromanages them, tearing down bulletin boards she doesn’t like, making rules about what color paper students can use, and even placing a ban on pencils because she doesn’t want children to erase mistakes. Instead, they have to use markers.  The Post previously reported that banned bags of art and classroom supplies were repeatedly dumped on the sidewalk at the end of the school year.

In the latest school survey, only 14 percent of teachers said they trusted the principal, compared to the citywide average of 86%, as per DOE data.  Mastriano has served as the school’s principal since 2012. During that time test scores have improved, but morale has reportedly suffered.Roughly 100 teachers and staffers have left the school over that time, parents told The Post.

The letter written by parents to District Superintendent Kamar Samuels described the principal’s alleged “pattern of toxicity”, calling her “unfit” to lead the school. On Dec. 1st, parents and teachers also cast a vote of no confidence against Mastriano with over 73 current and former parents voting against her, as well as 28 educators. Eighteen staffers abstained in the vote but none voted to support her.

Educators also told The Post, Mastriano makes racist comments against Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Special Education students.  “It’s her way of saying we don’t want you here,” one parent said, noting that the principal asks teachers to lower grades for Special-ed students.  The principal has allegedly made disparaging comments about the nearby public housing site on West 89th Street — including making assumptions that all the school’s black and Hispanic students live there.

Mastriano and the DOE did not return the Post’s requests for comment.

Superintendent Samuels reportedly told parents that the allegations in the letter would be investigated.