Parents at a Bronx special education school were shocked Wednesday after hearing a teacher was accused of exposing himself and doing a lewd act in front of students.
Dana Barschdorf, 44, was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly inserted his genitalia into an apparent Lysol container, sources told The Post as one parent said the gym teacher “never looked right.”
“I was always a little skeptical about him,” Ana Rodriguez said about Barschdorf, who she said was her son’s gym teacher.
“He never looked right — that man looks weird, let me tell you,” the 43-year-old stay-at-home mom told The Post as she dropped her 10-year-old off at PS 723 on Webster Avenue, which serves autistic elementary students.
Dana Barschdorf, 44, and his defense attorney after his arraignment at the Bronx Criminal Courthouse on January 15, 2025. Christopher Sadowski
Barschdorf is accused of allegedly exposing himself to students and was charged with two counts of attempted lewdness. Christopher Sadowski
“I’m very upset and angry because I don’t know if he has been inappropriate with my son. Most of these kids, including my son, are not able to articulate or say anything about what goes on in the school because of their developmental disabilities.
“This is what worries me the most — my son not being able to communicate things like this,” she added. “I have to advocate for my son because he can’t.”
Other parents echoed her concerns, saying they were scared and outraged about the allegations — which led cops to collar Barschdorf inside the school at about 8:45 a.m.
Mom Ana Rodriguez said she was shocked and angry about the alleged crimes, which the district hadn’t told her about. Georgett Roberts/NYPostOne woman who was sending her son to his third day of school said local administrators didn’t tell her about the arrest — which worried her even more.
“They didn’t tell me that,” she said. “It scares me. It scares me a lot. I don’t know what to think right now.”
Barschdorf is also accused of wiping his buttocks with a Lysol wipe in front of the six students 11 years old or younger, according to a criminal complaint.
The educator was charged by Bronx prosecutors on Wednesday with endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and exposure of a person.
During his arraignment Wednesday evening, he pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance with another court date set for Feb. 14.
The educator was charged by Bronx prosecutors on Wednesday with second-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
The alleged incident happened at the school at 1455 Webster Ave. in the Bronx. Google mapsDuring his arraignment Wednesday evening, he was released on his own recognizance with another court date set for Feb. 14.
Barschdorf, who was wearing a red T-shirt, black shorts and New Balance sneakers, and his lawyer both refused to comment leaving court.
More information about the allegations was not revealed during the brief hearing, but a court clerk told The Post an order of protection for an individual was issued.
The city Department of Education previously said administrators reassigned the teacher pending an investigation.
“This alleged behavior is completely unacceptable,” an agency spokesperson said in an email.
The NYPD initially charged Barschdorf on Tuesday with two counts of attempted lewdness before the Bronx District Attorney’s Office leveled the single endangerment charge Wednesday.
Other staffers reported Barschdorf to the authorities, police said.
The alleged pervert earned close to $100,000 annually in 2024, according to data from SeeThroughNY.
