Florida Teacher Accused of Child Abuse

(Broward County, Florida) A 44-year-old special needs teacher at Silver Ridge Elementary School, Deborah Tersigni, has been accused of lying on an 8-year-old boy, force-feeding another student and making a third child eat chips from the garbage.

Tersigni, who a history of using extreme methods when her students misbehave, is charged with child abuse.

A district administrative complaint alleges after an 8-year-old student behaved aggressively in class, Tersigni in January removed him from his wheelchair, screamed in his ear, held his hands behind his back and set him face down on the tile floor. She allegedly then lay on top of the 30-pound boy for several minutes while he gasped for air.

A classroom aide reported Tersigni, an employee since 2003, and the school district began investigating. It has charged her with immorality, misconduct, incompetence, gross insubordination and crimes involving moral turpitude.

Tersigni was booked into custody and released on bond.