special needs

Published on: November 18, 2024

Special Needs Students Abused by Elementary School Workers

Three elementary school employees were arrested for an alleged history of abusing special needs students by feeding them spicy foods and using inappropriate methods when punishing them.

In February 2024, the authorities in Smyrna, Delaware were notified about three elementary school workers who were allegedly mistreating special needs children. An investigation was opened, and the police reportedly discovered that the abuse, such as children having objects thrown at them and being ridiculed, had been going on for a couple of years. They also allegedly discovered that one of the youngsters had allegedly been hit and sprayed in the face with water as punishment. Another child, who suffers from a digestive disorder that is aggravated by spicy food, was reportedly fed Takis and hot sauce. Using the evidence collected, the authorities were led to believe that three women, ages 31, 26, and 21 were the likely suspects.

The 31-year-old, who started in 2022 as an instructional paraeducator and substitute teacher, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree child abuse, 9 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and offensive touching. She was held on a $12,500 unsecured bond.

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Published on: February 11, 2024

Teacher and Aide Tied Non-Verbal Autistic Child to Chair

by Staycie R. Sena

A special needs elementary school teacher and her aide are facing charges after allegedly tying a non-verbal autistic youngster to a chair during recess.

According to reports, on February 2, a woman who has worked at G.D. Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary School as an Exceptional Student Education teacher for approximately 2 years was recently involved in an incident with a 7-year-old child. Her teacher’s aide was also reportedly a participant.

When the students are taken from one part of the school to another, the teachers use a walking rope to make the transition easier and keep the children from wandering. During recess, the woman and her aide reportedly used some of the ropes to restrain the boy, who was sitting on the ground, by tying him to the back of a chair. He was allegedly left there for at least an hour.

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Published on: February 5, 2023

Sub Struck Special Needs Child with Book

by Staycie R. Sena

A special needs elementary school substitute teacher was accused of child abuse when she allegedly struck one of the children in her class with a book as a disciplinary measure.

About a month ago, a 25-year-old woman began working as a substitute teacher in a special needs classroom at the Champion Elementary School in Daytona Beach. Two other teachers worked with her in the class since the students often required extra attention.

According to a witness who also works at the school, the sub was engaging with students when they saw the woman hit a young boy with a book.

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Published on: November 27, 2020

Special Needs Teacher Caught With Hundreds of Child Porn Files

by Staycie R. Sena

A Florida man who worked with youngsters at a school and church has been arrested after the authorities reportedly found hundreds of pornographic files depicting children from age 10-months to teens.

46-year-old Shawn Fitzgerald is a teacher at Lakeland High School for children with special needs. He also coaches the boys’ varsity soccer team at the school and works in Bartow at the First United Methodist Church as the director of youth services.

In February, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared information with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office concerning a video they reportedly found when searching through files uploaded to a messenger app.

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Published on: February 23, 2018

Teen Student and Special Needs Teacher Caught Together in Hotel Room

by Staycie R. Sena

On Sunday police discovered a Texas middle-school teacher and her former 15-year-old student together in a hotel room.

29-year-old Crystal Nicole Rodriguez has been a special needs teacher for the past two years at Page Middle School. In addition, she was a girls’ basketball, track, soccer, and volleyball team coach at the San Antonio learning institution.

On February 18 Rodriguez was taken into custody for allegations that she was having a sexual relationship with a former teenage student when the pair was discovered together in a hotel room by the authorities. Rodriguez and the girl were found in bed together, and the police report reflected that Rodriguez gave them a statement confirming a sexual relationship between herself and the purported victim.

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