NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A former New Bedford Public Schools teacher pleaded not guilty to assaulting a nonverbal elementary school student with special needs, court records show.
According to a police report obtained by 12 News, video surveillance from Hayden-McFadden Elementary School on Feb. 25 allegedly shows Anissa Faria, 45, of Dartmouth, pushing the student to the ground and pulling the student’s ponytail three different times.
The incident was witnessed by another staff member who police said immediately reported it to the school’s principal.
Schools spokesperson Arthur Motta told 12 News the incident happened around 10:40 a.m. that day and that Faria was reportedly removed from the building by noon. He added that the student’s parents were notified just before 1 p.m. that day.
Motta said Faria was subsequently placed on administrative leave.
“New Bedford Public Schools takes all concerns regarding student safety seriously and is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students,” Motta said.
He said the district launched an internal investigation and filed a mandated 51A report to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Mandated reporting laws require certain individuals to notify child protective services when they know or suspect a child is being maltreated. It’s known as the 51A Law in Massachusetts.
According to the police report, the victim was taken to the nurse’s office to be evaluated and “did not appear to be severely injured,” however, the student did “not have the ability to communicate due to her disability.”
The district said school officials met with DCF in-person on Feb. 28 to support the agency’s investigation. On March 3, Faria was issued an intent to dismiss notice by the district. She is no longer employed by the district, according to Motta.
“Within 24 hours of concluding the NBPS personnel investigation, the district submitted all relevant documentation to the Office of the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review by the Office of Professional Standards,” Motta added.
Police said in a March 6 report that school officials told the responding officer that they first reached out to school resource officers (SROs) at two other schools on March 3. No other follow-ups were made when those initial attempts were unsuccessful, police said in the report.
Police said they did not begin investigating the incident until officers became aware of it on March 6.
When asked why police weren’t notified immediately, the police report said a school official told the officers it should be up to DCF to notify the police. But officers noted that due to the severity of the incident, the SRO should have been informed right away.
In the March 6 police report, the responding officer said, “I will be contacting [the student’s] family today to make them aware of this incident and that a criminal charge on Ms. Faria would be forthcoming.”
Faria was arraigned on March 28 and pled not guilty to one count of assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability, a felony.
Court records show Faria pled not guilty and was released on personal recognizance with conditions that she not have contact with the victim and children under the age of 12, with the exception of biological children. Her attorney declined to comment on the matter.
Faria is due back in court on May 27.