Education Department officials are backing a Queens middle-school principal despite a monthlong protest against him by parents and teachers.
Officials laud John Murphy’s turnaround of MS 8, but some teachers and parents call him an autocrat with little regard for the school community.
The rallies began in mid-March after reports that a school aide was hospitalized following a tirade against her by Murphy, who took over in 2005.
They’ve continued each morning since, amid allegations that he’s ordered grades changed to make the school look better.
Education officials said they were looking into two complaints, including one about the hospitalization.
But they cited Murphy’s record and noted that the school had three principals in a single year before his arrival.
“Under Principal Murphy, JHS 8 has improved from a D to a B and just came off the state’s list of failing schools. He has particularly targeted ineffective teaching,” said departmental spokeswoman Margie Feinberg.
Murphy declined to comment.