Disney World Trips Meant for Homeless N.Y.C. Students Allegedly Used By School Employees Instead: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 2022.Photo:Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Anew reportfrom the special commissioner of investigations for the New York City School District alleges that multiple school employees went on Disney World trips meant for homeless students.

Wilson allegedly used an outside vendor to book “busing, food, lodging, and all other itinerary items” trips to various locations, including Disney World in Florida, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, instead of through the New York City Department of Education because “there is less oversight of community-based organizations.”

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 2014.Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty

Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty

She and five other STH staff members — Program Manager Shaquieta Boyd, Family Assistant Joanne Castro, Family Assistant Mishawn Jack, Family Assistant Virgen Ramos, and Community Coordinator Maria Sylvester — allegedly went on the trips with their children, grandchildren and partners.

“Wilson would determine which staff members could attend the trip, assign students to each staff member to chaperone during the trip, then fill the spots allegedly assigned for those students with family members of the staff,” the report claims, noting that trips took place from 2016 to 2019.

The report further alleges that Wilson and the staff members would then “complete permission slips using the information of homeless students, then sign off on the paperwork as the parents of those students.”

The EPCOT theme park at Disney World in 2022.Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Although the report was completed in January 2023, it wasfirst made public on Monday, Sept. 9.

The special commissioner’s office toldNPRthat “it is the general practice of [the special commissioner of investigation] to withhold publication of our reports while administrative actions are pending.”

Vehicles pass the entrance to the Walt Disney World theme park and resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009.Matt Stroshane/Bloomberg via Getty

Matt Stroshane/Bloomberg via Getty

“Our students in temporary housing deserve to have the supports they need, and when we were given the report from SCI, we acted immediately,” her statement continued.

Wilson told theNew York Postthat she was not fired from her position but “retired.” She also denied bringing her two daughters on the trips and called the investigation from the special commissioner’s office “a witch hunt.”

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PEOPLE reached out to the New York State Department of Education and Disney but did not immediately hear back.

source: people.com