CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. (WRGB) — Neighbors said they are concerned about the past behavior of a man whose wife was just selected to be the next superintendent of schools. Canajoharie Central School District last week tapped Jennifer Schwabrow to be superintendent, despite knowing her husband is a former police officer who was convicted of raping a minor.
Adam Schwabrow was convicted in 2013 of third degree rape and was sentenced to one year in jail. He remains on the state’s Level 1 sex offender registry.
Jennifer Schwabrow is a 20-year employee of the school and is currently the director of special education in the district. The school board voted last week to select her to replace the current superintendent, Dr. Nick Fitzgerald, who will step down in February, 2027.
Viewers alerted CBS6 to Schwabrow’s past, and social media is lighting up about the issue as well. Schwabrow was a Johnstown police officer in 2011 at the time of the crime. He was 32, his victim was under 17. At the time prosecutors said the sexual contact happened while Schwabrow was off-duty and he did not use force. He was forced to resign from Johnstown Police.
Schwabrow remains on the state’s sex offender registry at the lowest level. That does not prohibit him from being near or at schools.
“So nothing in the level one registry by itself prohibits you from being near schools,” Michael Macomber, an attorney with Tully Rinckey Law Firm. Macomber said Schwabrow can eventually be removed from the registry.
“Level one is the lowest of the three levels of registry,” Macomber said. “A level one offender is eligible after 20 years to petition to be removed from the sexual registry.”
Has the district kept Schwabrow away from schools? Will they start? School leaders wouldn’t answer that question directly.
