Longtime NYC teacher wins court battle, reinstated after firing over COVID vaccine - but remains barred from school: 'I'm not a criminal' | 3 Sept 2024 | A veteran Queens teacher who was fired for refusing to get the COVID vaccine and then reinstated by a judge says she was still blocked from entering her school Tuesday. Daphne Halkias, a single mom of four and educator for nearly 30 years, told The Post she "did everything right" in terms of fighting her case - and is now "kind of disgusted" that she is continuing to be hassled. "I'm not a criminal, and yet they are making me feel like I'm breaking the law," Halkias, 55, said after she was unceremoniously booted from PS-85 in Long Island City when she showed up for teacher orientation. A judge last month ruled that Halkias was to be reinstated to the city Department of Education effective Aug. 1, after a protracted court battle over her employment.