ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. — A teaching assistant at Jesse J. Kaplan School in West Nyack faces charges after allegedly endangering students with disabilities. Catherine Rios was arrested this week and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She turned herself in and is set to appear in Clarkstown Justice Court next week.
According to reports, the January incident involved Rios allegedly pushing two students’ heads underwater in the school’s therapeutic pool. Witnesses claimed one student appeared to gasp for air upon resurfacing. Before that, Rios allegedly yelled in one student’s face and approached another from behind before submerging them. No injuries were reported.
Two staff members who said they witnessed the event informed school administrators. Rockland BOCES followed with an internal investigation, with reports submitted to Clarkstown police and the state Education Department. Rios has since been placed on administrative leave and will have no further contact with students.
Rockland BOCES addressed the situation in a letter to the community, emphasizing that student safety remains its highest priority. “We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment for all students,” the letter stated.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
Disclaimer for Arrest Reports
The information provided in this article is based on public records, law enforcement statements, and official reports at the time of publication. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and allegations may be subject to change as investigations proceed, and we strive to provide updates when new information becomes available.
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Mathew Alvarez joined Rockland Daily News as a reporter in March 2020, but he’s no stranger to Rockland County. He grew up in New City and graduated from Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media.
