A veteran public-schools superintendent resigned yesterday after being outed for having a two-year affair with a subordinate — whose bizarre antics helped hasten her sudden downfall.
Queens High Schools Superintendent Francesca Peña — who has worked for the city’s public schools for 18 years, including the past six as a superintendent — was snared in a probe of her illicit flame, Assistant Principal Milciades “Mayo” Pepin of Randolph HS in Manhattan.
School investigators found that Pepin had used hidden software to spy on the e-mails and smartphones of Peña and three male principals whom he apparently viewed as competition — including his supervisor, Randolph HS Principal Henry Rubio.
Their probe also showed that Pepin had helped Peña install similar spyware on her husband’s phone in 2008 — an act that might constitute criminal eavesdropping.
Peña subsequently caught her husband, Ramon, cheating, and then sparked up the romance with Pepin, according to the report.
The lovebirds split up earlier this year.
“This had bizarre aspects to it,” said Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard Condon, who referred his findings to the Manhattan district attorney.
Peña, Pepin and Rubio did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.
The probe started in January, after Rubio contacted school investigators regarding Pepin’s errant behavior.
Investigators found that Pepin sent bizarre messages to Rubio, accusing him of having an affair with Peña — including several messages that alluded to a “love triangle” involving the three of them.
Rubio and Peña both denied there was anything sexual between them.
Peña resigned when confronted with the report, and officials were seeking to boot Pepin, the city Department of Education said.
Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland