Teacher’s Aide Accused of Violent Act on 5-Year-Old Sparks Outcry in New Jersey

A Salem County, New Jersey, woman claims a kindergarten teacher’s assistant assaulted her five-year-old daughter, leaving her wounded and afraid to return. Child’s mother Mariah says John Fenwick Academy reported misconduct. She was rushed to school with awful news.

Mom came at school to see the teacher’s aide putting her daughter into a chair. She was harmed when her daughter’s head hit a metal cabinet’s back. The police complaint alleges that the assistant “picked up a student, forcefully placed the student in a chair, resulting in her striking the back of her head on a metal cabinet.” Days later, the mother observed bruises on her daughter’s arms, neck, and legs.

Mariah recommended schools to call police immediately. Despite trying to talk to the aide and teacher, the assistance was gone and the teacher was unreachable. The institution acknowledged an internal investigation after misconduct reports.

NJ Department of Children and Families and Salem County Prosecutor are investigating. The school prioritizes student safety but has not disclosed the aide’s employment status or internal conclusions.

After the alleged assault, parents and community members fear classroom safety and oversight. Typical school days terrify mothers. She was shocked that this could happen in a kindergarten classroom, where kids should be supervised.

Will the probe result in charges? School discipline—what happens? How can families and schools trust again?

Sources
People (N.J. Mom Claims Daughter, 5, Was Assaulted by Teacher’s Aide)
New York Post (N.J. Kindergarten Aide Accused of Smashing 5-Year-Old’s Head)
CBS Philadelphia reporting