CUMBERLAND, RI — A Blackstone Valley Prep teacher was arrested on three felony counts of second-degree child abuse after allegedly slapping special needs students at the elementary school.
Djamila Vaz Rosa, 39, of Pawtucket, turned herself in to Cumberland Police on March 4 and was arraigned before a Justice of the Peace before being released.
Cumberland Police responded to Blackstone Valley Prep at 310 Broad St. on Feb. 11 after school officials reported that a teacher had allegedly assaulted two separate special needs students by slapping them in the head at the elementary school at 52 Broad St.
School officials learned of the alleged conduct late in the afternoon on Feb. 10 and contacted police the following morning.
While investigating those complaints, a third victim’s family came to police headquarters to report an additional similar incident involving the same teacher.
Police investigated the allegations with assistance from the Aubin Child Protection Center before obtaining an arrest warrant.
Vaz Rosa has no prior criminal history.
Chief Matthew J. Benson said students should feel safe in schools and classrooms with those entrusted with caring for and educating them.
“In this circumstance, that was not the case,” Benson said.
“I appreciate the staff at Blackstone Valley Prep for alerting us when they did so we could immediately begin our investigation and ultimately hold this individual accountable for their alleged conduct. Such behavior should never be tolerated with any teacher, let alone one in a classroom with such vulnerable students.”
