.png)
A preschool teacher at Elgin Elementary School has reportedly been fired following an incident in which she allegedly swatted, physically restrained and yelled at a 4-year-old special needs student.
The child, Lorenzo, is legally blind, deaf and autistic. He is also nonverbal, making it difficult for him to communicate discomfort or distress, according to his grandmother, Rosemary Lombardo. Lombardo told the Courier that the boy’s mother was first contacted by school staff one week after the alleged episode in early April.
“I was blown away by how roughly she handled him,” Lombardo said, referencing video footage shared with the family by school staff. “She grabbed him aggressively by his arm—both arms—swatted him on the butt, then shoved him into the chair and yelled at him to be quiet. She grabbed his legs by the knees and slammed them together.” The video also showed other students and teacher’s aides nearby, she added.
Elgin Independent School District confirmed the employee—identified by the family as life skills teacher Rachel Blunt—was immediately placed on administrative leave.
“Elgin ISD holds all employees to the highest standards of professionalism and conduct, and we fully cooperate with law enforcement in any matters involving legal proceedings,” the district said in a statement.
The district declined to discuss specifics of the incident or personnel matters, but Lombardo said the family was informed by school officials April 28 that Blunt had been terminated.
Lombardo emphasized that she does not blame the school, as she feels staff appropriately handled the situation, but wants to see legal consequences for the former teacher.
“I don’t blame the district at all—I feel like they did what they should have done by contacting my daughter at the moment they found out,” she said. “I blame her, and I want her held accountable. I don’t want her going to another district and doing this to another special needs child.”
The family filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency, which referred the matter to Child Protective Services. Lombardo said a CPS worker and an Elgin Police Department detective later contacted the family, but noted that as Lorenzo is nonverbal, he could not provide a requested statement.
Lombardo said they have long advocated for Lorenzo to have a one-on-one aide due to the severity of his disabilities but were told such accommodations were not typically available. Following the incident, the district proposed placing Lorenzo with one other student under the supervision of a dedicated teacher.
Lombardo said she remains uneasy about the arrangement.
“He needs someone who can focus only on him,” she said. “He’s a handful, and my daughter has taught him so much at home on her own. To send him to school and have him mistreated like this—it breaks my heart.”
Records reviewed by the Courier show the family had previously raised concerns with the district about Lorenzo’s care, including a missing hearing aid and cases in which he came home soiled or wearing another child’s clothing.
District officials said they are working with campus and special education staff to assess Lorenzo’s needs and determine what additional support may be appropriate.
“We are committed to meeting Lorenzo’s needs at Elgin Elementary,” the district said in a letter to the family.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo remains enrolled at Elgin Elementary, though the family is considering a move to Austin Independent School District.
His grandmother said he appears cheerful at home but worries there may be lingering effects of the situation.
“When someone is hurting you, you say ‘stop,’” she recently told him during playtime. “He just smiled, and I can’t tell if he understands, but that’s all I can do until we know he’s OK.”
As of press time, no arrest has been reported, and it is unclear whether the family will follow through with legal action.
