CA - Special ed teacher charged w/cruelty, assault; 8 others placed on leave

[wfgodot]

Alexia Bogdis, California Special Education Teacher, Probed For Child Abuse; 8 School Workers On Leave (huffingtonpost.com)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Eight school district employees were placed on leave during an investigation of their handling of allegations that a special education teacher kicked and slapped students.

Alexia Bogdis, the special education teacher, is facing nine misdemeanor battery and child cruelty charges.

She is accused of slapping and kicking the stomach of one 4-year-old student, and twisting the wrist, kicking the chair and withholding food and drink from another student between December and January. Neither child was seriously injured.
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the rest of the AP story, w/video, at link above

 

[Missizzy]

This incident makes me tremendously sad as I have nine children who were Special Ed students. Those of us with children who have physical, mental health, developmental and/or behavioral challenges struggle daily with worry about the safety of our children. When these kids are abused or mistreated in any way, they often cannot or hesitate to report the abuse. They can so easily be victimized due to their vulnerabilities.

It sounds like this teacher must have reached her breaking point. I surely understand how frustrating teaching can be--especially teaching special needs children. But, she had NO business working in this field if she was resorting to physical abuse of the children.

My heart goes out to the kids as they will now have to learn how to trust again. That's not easy.

 

[Rayemonde]

March 2013:

In a stunning turn in the case accusing a Redwood City School District teacher of abusing young autistic students, prosecutors dropped all criminal charges against her Thursday, citing a lack of evidence.

The classroom assistants whose allegations were the core of the case against Alexia Bogdis of Millbrae backpedaled significantly from their original claims, leading prosecutors to conclude the case was doomed, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe...

The reasons for the change in statements remained subject to speculation Thursday. Neither defense nor prosecution had a good answer.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22744129/charges-dropped-redwood-city-teacher-abuse-case

 

[Rayemonde]

April 2013:

The situation has resulted in numerous lawsuits. This week, the second family of one of the children involved filed a lawsuit against the district, Bogdis and five of the aides.

Within the lawsuit, filed by attorney Heather Sweeney of the San Francisco-based Dolan Law Firm, the family claims that their 5-year-old non-verbal autistic son was abused by Bogdis through forced feedings, withholding of food and water, kicking, forceful restraints, general neglect and being made to stand in one place for long periods of time. In addition, the family claims their son was emotionally abused and that the school knew of the parents’ concerns prior to the February 2012 incident when the family was contacted by police about abuse of their son.

Among the allegations are charges of assault, child abuse, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, neglect infliction of emotional distress, neglect supervision, neglect hiring, training, supervision and retention, neglect failing to recognize and report child abuse and negligence...

Ms. Bogdis is still an employee of the Redwood City School District, and is serving in a non-classroom position. Due to our obligation to protect the privacy of staff, we are not able to share further details of her employment,” said [School District Spokesperson Naomi] Hunter.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/artic...acher-aides-sued-over-abuse-case/1769108.html