Police arrested a 29-year-old woman in New Jersey last week after she spent four days in a high school pretending to be a student. Hyejeong Shin of New Brunswick is accused of falsifying government documents and altering her identity and age. The documentation duped school officials, enabling her to attend classes at New Brunswick High School.
According to NBC News, Superintendent Aubrey Johnson addressed the community during a Board of Education Meeting explaining Shin's sham. The incident has caused quite a stir in the school community, with parents questioning how it happened and if their students are safe.
Shin attended classes for nearly an entire school week.
Even though she is nearly 30 years old, Shin spent four days at the high school posing as a student. According to NBC News, she allegedly forged a birth certificate that allowed her to enroll in classes.
The news outlet reported that New Brunswick Police said the school followed proper protocol, according to New Jersey law that requires schools "immediately enroll unaccompanied children, even in the absence of records normally required for enrollment." The district can request documents at a later date, such as those that can verify how old a student is.
Shin reportedly did not spend much time in the classroom.
New Brunswick Today posted a video of Johnson discussing the incident at the school board meeting. He explained that Shin spent most of her time with guidance counselors who were trying to find out more about her. Through much investigation, staff members say they uncovered Shin's "ruse" and addressed the situation.
On social media, however, many parents and students are saying the teens recall seeing her in classes and in the hallways, and they even allege that it was students who brought up their concerns about her to school administration.
The superintendent praised the school staff for their quick response.
Johnson released a statement obtained by NBC news stating that school officials contacted police and that Shin has been barred from district property.
"Once our staff determined it was dealing with fraudulent information, they immediately notified the appropriate authorities. The individual in question has now been charged," he wrote.
Police are investigating, and the district is launching its own internal probe.
"This is an unfortunate event. Communication has been provided to the parents of individuals that the young lady may have come into contact with, and communication has been provided to all high school parents today," Johnson said, according to NBC News.
Despite the district's investigation efforts, students and parents aren't satisfied.
No one seems to know why Shin enrolled, but it is concerning. Sophomore Rihanna Colon spoke with News 12 about the breach in school security.
"To know that a person with that intention was that close to me is even scarier," she said.
Students protested on Wednesday, demanding the school make changes that will make them safer. It isn't just Shin. Other issues, including school violence, have caused unrest among the student body for years.
"I want to see the school make a change. They simply ignore everything, sweep it under rug for their reputation," Colon told News 12.
Parents don't understand why the district did not inform them of Shin's scheme sooner.
Parents feel like they were left out in the dark.
"It happened last week and that's concerning. As parents, we are the last ones to know what's going on, and we should be the first ones," said parent Yaritza Arroyo via News 12. "Our children are in school and we send them there hoping and praying that they are safe — and they aren't."
Arroyo shared videos of the student's protest and a photo of Shin on Facebook. The image left some confused.
"Whoever believed that she was a student needs to be fired u can clearly see she is an adult," someone wrote. Another agreed, "seriously, Smh."
A number of community members also have indicated they fear Shin infiltrated the school as part of a child trafficking scheme, and parents have expressed deep concern over this possibility.
"I’m so angry I’m so sad idk how to even feel. Our children are in danger people," Arroyo wrote on Facebook. "We have to do something. These schools are not protecting our children!"
"The wellbeing of our students, staff, and community are of utmost importance to us, and we will continue working with the police department and our other partners in addressing this matter," Johnson said in the Wednesday statement.
