Nassau Teacher Charged For Giving Teen COVID Vaccine Fired: Report

HERRICKS, NY — The Herricks High School science teacher who was arrested in January 2022 and charged with illegally giving her son's 17-year-old friend a COVID-19 vaccine has been fired, Newsday reported Tuesday.

Laura Parker Russo is currently facing a felony charge of unauthorized practice of profession.

Russo, 54, is a 25-year teaching veteran who made headlines in January when news surfaced that she administered a Johnson & Johnson vaccine at her Sea Cliff home to a minor.

Video of the injection surfaced at the time, which appears to show the biology teacher joking "You'll be fine—I hope."

Russo was reassigned out of the classroom after her arrest.

Newsday obtained state documents that show the board voted to fire Russo, ruling her actions “misconduct” and “conduct unbecoming a teacher." A state arbitrator sided with the board.

Russo's legal case is pending. In May, she was offered a plea deal if she accepted a misdemeanor charge and 50 hours of community service.

Russo told Newsday that she thinks her termination was unjustified.

“What I did was an egregious lapse of judgment that I deeply regret, but I did it to help a young man not to harm him."

The Herricks school district sent Patch the following statement that was read at a Nov. 3 board meeting:

"During the 2021 – 2022 school year, the Herricks School District received information about an employee engaging in behavior outside of school that put the safety of a minor at risk. The board, in partnership with the district leadership team, took swift action to investigate the allegations. Once confirmed, the staff member was removed from the classroom to ensure the safety of our students and the district thereupon took the necessary steps to initiate the Education Law Section 3020-a process seeking termination of employment. The district was notified earlier this week that the hearing officer found in favor of the district and directed that the employee be terminated...The Board will implement the decision of the hearing officer pursuant to a formal board resolution wherein such employee is terminated."

Russo's lawyer did not respond to a request for further comment.