A preschool teacher from Scituate, Massachusetts stands accused of assaulting and verbally abusing young children in her care, as reported by authorities. Lilly Garofola, 29, of Hull, has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of assault and battery, as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the Hingham District Court on Wednesday, according to NBC Boston.
Garofola's alleged misconduct occurred during school hours and involved four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and a dozen counts of assault and battery, accusations not only relayed by concerned parents but also apparent on surveillance footage, the preschool teacher was arrested without incident on Wednesday morning, after having been placed on leave and later resigning from the Little Steps Learning Center, the investigation which involved Scituate police and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families was initiated when reports of possibly inappropriate physical conduct involving Garofola were brought to the attention of authorities by parents and staff, as detailed by CBS News Boston.
The Little Steps Learning Center has expressed their commitment to cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, stating, "These charges are deeply concerning and are not aligned with Little Steps' core values," in an official statement obtained by CBS News Boston, the school reassured parents of their continuous commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for all children under their care. Charged with such grave accusations, Garofola’s bond was set at $1,000, on the strict condition she avoids contact with any minors under the age of 16 as well as any case witnesses.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz described the reports of abuse, including physical actions that pushed and slammed children to the ground, into chairs, tables, walls, and involved grabbing a child’s face and squeezing it, and verbally abusive outbursts where Garofola was quoted yelling at children, statements like, "I hate you," "You're so annoying" and "Why do you make my job so hard?" were obtained from court documents cited by NBC Boston. The cases reported span between April and May, with an array of abuse strategies that ranged from emotional to the physically aggressive manner of handling the children, the Department of Children and Families is now also involved in the investigation, following the lead of local authorities in Scituate.
The school extended a message to parents, assuring them of the priority placed on their children's safety and well-being. The statement, obtained by CBS News Boston, "We are committed to maintaining a secure, nurturing environment for all children in our care," echoes the school's long-held values, which starkly contrast with the current charges. While most of the incidents were purportedly recorded on video, the Scituate Police Department—reachable at 781-545-1212—is urging any families with concerns of similar misconduct by Garofola to come forward
