Investigation Finds Brooklyn Teacher Faked Stairwell Tumble

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CBS 2) -- Most of us know what it's like to get the jitters before an exam, a date or that big interview – but one Brooklyn woman went to extreme – and dangerous - circumstances to avoid an evaluation at her job.

And it was caught on tape. Surveillance video shows former Canarsie High School teacher Ilene Feldman is seen tumbling down the stairs of the school where she once worked, and a recent investigation finds she did it on purpose.

According to a report obtained by the New York Post and confirmed to CBS 2 by the Department of Education, the first-year teacher was so terrified of doing poorly on a scheduled observation by her superiors that she threw herself down the staircase off the school.

While the incident happened in December 2008, the video was not made public until now. It shows Feldman stooped down to rummage through her purse and holding onto the railing before clumsily tumbling down the stairs.

When she came to stop on the landing, she grabbed her legs, and, according the report, began screaming out in pain as another teacher rushed to help.

School administrators were suspicious from the start and didn't waste any time before launching an investigation. Feldman initially defended herself, saying she got stuck on some gum.

"I lost my balance and tripped/tumbled/fell down the rest of the stairs," she said in a separate report obtained by the Post.

She then checked into a hospital and filed for four days of worker's compensation.

Despite her claims, Feldman refused to watch the ape with investigators and quickly resigned from her $50,000 a year teaching post.

The investigation wrapped up last year, but neither the report nor the video were made public until now.

The Department of Education declined to go on camera, but said Feldman has since been made ineligible to teach in New York City schools.

CBS 2 News reached out to Feldman but was unable to contact her at her home.