Ex-Ansonia Teacher Accused Of Assault After 3-Year-Old Student Injured: PD

ANSONIA, CT — A former city elementary school instructor is accused of injuring a 3-year-old student at Mead School in March.

On Wednesday, police charged Mary Durso-Smith, 32, of New Haven on a warrant with risk of injury and second-degree assault.

The arrest stems from an incident at the school on March 25, 2025.

The student suffered an arm injury that required surgical intervention, police said, in a press release posted on the department’s Facebook page Thursday.

“During the course of the investigation there was video of the incident which led the investigating officer to determine the incident was not accidental,” police said.

Police said they are not releasing the video at this time, citing the pending court case.

Durso-Smith was released on a $50,000 bond, and she is due to be arraigned in Superior Court in Derby today.

Durso-Smith has a provisional educator certificate for early childhood, elementary and special education, Connecticut state Department of Education records show. She obtained the certificate in September 2024.

Attorney Edward L. Walsh of New Haven, who is representing the male child and his family, has filed a notice of intent to sue Durso-Smith, the city of Ansonia and Board of Education over the incident.

The one-page notice, filed with the city clerk’s office on May 28, indicates the incident happened March 25, when the child was enrolled in the pre-kindergarten program. The child was on a playground during school hours, the notice states. As he was walking, it claims Durso-Smith caused the child to fall to the ground. The fall resulted in the child fracturing his right arm, necessitating two surgeries, according to the notice.