The Hiring
Jeffrey Epstein was hired at the Dalton School, one of New York’s most prestigious private schools, despite not holding a college degree. The hiring was reportedly facilitated through family connections. He began teaching in approximately 1974.
What He Taught
Epstein taught mathematics and physics. By multiple accounts, he was an effective teacher with genuine aptitude for explaining quantitative material to students.
The Student Population
Dalton served wealthy New York families. Among the students were children of the most prominent New York financial, entertainment, and professional families. This social exposure would prove consequential for Epstein’s career.
The Bear Stearns Connection
The most consequential aspect of his Dalton tenure was his acquaintance with Alan ‘Ace’ Greenberg, a Bear Stearns executive whose children attended the school. Greenberg was impressed by Epstein and created a path for him to join Bear Stearns.
The Pattern in Retrospect
In retrospect, Epstein’s choice of profession teaching adolescents in a position of authority and his documented access to and interest in much younger people takes on additional meaning given what became known about his criminal conduct.