A special education teacher, Kathryn Rousseau, has been accused of allegedly abusing three pre-K students at Mitchell Elementary School in the Bridgewater Raynham School District, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. Rousseau, 56, pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and battery on a person with intellectual disabilities.
The allegations came to light earlier this month when a staff member at the school reported an incident involving Rousseau to the state’s Department of Children and Families. It was claimed that Rousseau had grabbed a child’s mouth, resulting in a cut lip. The parent of a 4-year-old student then notified the Bridgewater Police Department, prompting an investigation.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Rousseau had allegedly grabbed the mouth of another student and force-fed a third student to the point of vomiting. The DA’s office also revealed that Rousseau had lied about the incidents, falsely claiming that the marks were self-inflicted. Several staff members at the elementary school witnessed the alleged abuse.
Rousseau, who has been working as a special needs teacher since 2002 in Attleboro and Bridgewater, was placed on administrative leave before being arrested at her home on Tuesday. Following her arraignment, she was released from custody but ordered to stay away from her workplace, the victims, and their families. The investigation is ongoing, and Rousseau is expected to appear in court again in May.
