Teacher Accused of Making Student Take Off Shirt

A special education teacher in Fairfield has been arrested, accused of making a 6-year-old autistic student take off her shirt in class.

Police have charged Elizabeth Valeriay, 53, of Madison, with cruelty to persons.

The incident happened when Valeriay was working at Dwight Elementary School in Fairfield last October, police said. The girl refused to stop scratching her chest, so Valeriay made her take off her shirt, police said.

According to a police report, the girl had become fixated on striped shirts and was wearing one that day.

Valeriay told police she'd been taught to verbally redirect students and get rid of any distractions when she ran into issues like this.  She had been working as a special education teacher for 30 years.

School officials said Valeriay no longer works for the school system.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us