Contracted teacher's aide charged with child abuse

A teacher's aide, contracted with but not employed by Rio Rancho Public Schools, has been charged with child abuse.

Tonya Lynn Gonzalez, 49, of Albuquerque, was summoned for abuse of a child that took place at Rio Rancho Middle School.

According to an incident report filed by police, concerns arose when the parents noticed bruises on their special-needs child's cheek and arm, prompting them to contact the school's vice principal. The vice principal found, by reviewing school video, that a teacher was trying to get the child to the bathroom after having an accident earlier in the day, but the child refused to cooperate. The teacher then left the student unsupervised by the exit door.

At that point, Gonzalez begins spending time with the child, also unsuccessfully attempting to get him to cooperate. A chair was brought for the child, and the teacher and Gonzalez tried unsuccessfully to get him in the chair. The teacher left to get help, and Gonzalez began to tap the child's leg with her foot. The child grabbed her leg, and she grabbed his hands. He then scratched her hands and arms, and she slapped his in return, with force, several times. The child then laid on the ground, and she kicked him in the head. As other teachers came back, Gonzalez got on the ground with the child and began rubbing his back.

The vice principal said Gonzalez was immediately put on administrative leave, specifying that she is a contracted teacher's aide and not directly employed by RRPS.

Rio Rancho Public Schools confirmed this.

"We can confirm that an incident took place on February 15 involving the individual in question, who was employed by a contractor (not employed by RRPS) and the individual is no longer associated with the district. We provided full cooperation to law enforcement in relation to this matter," the school district said when asked about the incident.

Punishment for a conviction of child abuse varies.