NYC Principal and Subordinate Fined for Ethics Violations
A principal and her domestic partner faced city fines after she approved his tenure and overtime at an Upper West Side school.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Administration
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The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board fined a public school principal $7,500 and her subordinate partner $4,250 in September 2026. The findings followed a review of their professional conduct at the High School of Arts and Technology.
Why it matters
The case highlights the strict enforcement of City Charter rules that prohibit public servants from using their authority to provide financial or career benefits to individuals with whom they share a personal relationship.
The principal authorized nearly 200 hours of overtime for her partner in 2024, resulting in $12,000 in extra pay. These actions triggered a total of $11,750 in combined fines for the two involved individuals.
The players
Bridget Garzaniti
A former public school principal who faced regulatory fines for approving professional benefits for her domestic partner.
Curtis Williams
A school employee who was transferred after receiving unpermitted overtime and tenure recommendations from his partner.
New York City Conflicts of Interest Board
The municipal agency responsible for ensuring city employees adhere to ethics laws and local government regulations.
Department of Education
The city agency that manages public school oversight and enforces regulations regarding hiring and personnel advancement.
The details
The violations occurred when the principal leveraged her position to provide preferential treatment to her partner, including a top performance rating and a formal recommendation for tenure in June 2024. The pair had lived together since 2017. Following the disclosure of these actions, the subordinate was transferred to the High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice.
Timeline
Bridget Garzaniti and Curtis Williams began living together in June 2017.
The pair had a child in August 2017.
Curtis Williams received $12,000 in overtime pay during 2024.
The principal recommended her partner for tenure in June 2024.
The Conflicts of Interest Board released its report in September 2026.
The Home Front
This case underscores the reach of the New York City Charter in regulating professional conduct among public servants. It serves as a reminder of the strict accountability standards held by municipal agencies for those in leadership roles within the school system.
Families with students in the public system should monitor school communications for updates on leadership changes or administrative shifts. If you have concerns about school operations, official channels through the district remain the standard path for reporting.
The takeaway
Ethics regulations in public service are designed to ensure fair treatment and resource allocation for all residents. Always verify that institutional decisions follow established personnel policies when interacting with local governance.
Further reading
For more information on oversight, visit our Administration section.
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