3 Pre-K Educators On Leave Amid Allegations Of Verbal Abuse: Schools

NEW HAVEN, CT —Noting that "student safety must always be our highest priority," New Haven Public Schools spokesperson Justin Harmon confirmed that state and local police are "investigating allegations" of verbal abuse of pre-K kids.

"The state Department of Children and Families has been notified and New Haven Police are investigating allegations by parents of pre-kindergarten pupils at Conte West Hills School of verbal abuse in a classroom," Harmon said.

"Parents provided an audiotape taken from the classroom to document their concerns," he noted.

A teacher and two paraprofessionals have been put on leave while the investigation is ongoing, Harmon said. "In the interim, classroom programming will be provided by specialists from the early childhood team."

Harmon said that "mental health support is also being provided to students in the classroom."

There is a 19-minute audio recording where educators can be heard verbally abusing the students, who are ages 3 and 4, according to a report by WTNH. Patch has reviewed the recording.

Read the full WTNH report here.

According to New Haven police spokesperson Sgt. Cherelle Carr, authorities were notified of the incident on early Monday morning.

Carr said police have conducted its preliminary interviews," and as a result, the incident was transferred to the Special Victims Unit within the detective bureau. She said that now a "more in-depth investigation will take place."

This post will be updated when new information is received.

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