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From the New York Post: A veteran Queens teacher who was fired for refusing to get the COVID vaccine and then reinstated by a judge says she was still blocked from entering her school Tuesday.
Daphne Halkias, a single mom of four and educator for nearly 30 years, told The Post she “did everything right” in terms of fighting her case — and is now “kind of disgusted” that she is continuing to be hassled.
“I’m not a criminal, and yet they are making me feel like I’m breaking the law,” Halkias, 55, said after she was unceremoniously booted from PS-85 in Long Island City when she showed up for teacher orientation.
A judge last month ruled that Halkias was to be reinstated to the city Department of Education effective Aug. 1, after a protracted court battle over her employment.
Halkias, a Greek Orthodox Christian, was fired from the school on Sept. 5, 2022, after she refused to comply with the mandate to get a Covid vaccine.
Halkias had served in the education system for 29 years, and had worked as a pre-kindergarten teacher at the Judge Charles Vallone School for 23 years. She was only six months away from qualifying for full retirement benefits when she was fired.
Last month, Queens Supreme Court Justice Chereé Buggs ruled that the DOE’s denial of Halkias’ religious exemption was “arbitrary and capricious, lacking a factual basis and adequate explanation” and ordered her to be instated with back pay, the report explains.
However, when she showed up for work on Tuesday, Halkias said, “I was told that there was nothing for me. The principal said that she had no directions given to her about my case, there was no position for me, and I couldn’t get a time card because I’m not officially in the system.”
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