Fairfield police have arrested a special education teacher on allegations she punished a 6-year-old autistic student by making the girl take her shirt off in a classroom.
Elizabeth Valeriay, 53, of Madison was charged Tuesday with cruelty to persons.
Police said Valeriay was working at Dwight Elementary School in Fairfield last October when she made the girl take her shirt off for refusing to stop scratching her chest. A police report said the girl had become fixated on striped shirts and was wearing one that day.
Police said Valeriay told them she had been taught to verbally redirect students and remove distractions when they get distracted. She had been a special education teacher for 30 years.
Officials said Valeriay no longer works for the school system.
