WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A former Walton County teacher has been charged with child abuse following allegations of misconduct involving a non-verbal three-year-old student in her classroom, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
Tonya Gainey, 57, a former Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher at the Wise Center in DeFuniak Springs, is said to have been involved in an incident reported on December 10. The WCSO said it was notified the following day after school administrators filed a complaint with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
According to the WCSO, school administrators reassigned Ms Gainey on Wednesday morning to prevent further contact with students while the investigation was underway. However, Gainey reportedly refused to leave the school campus and was eventually escorted off the property and trespassed by the school resource deputy.
During this time, she submitted her resignation via email, the sheriff’s office stated.
A criminal investigation into the allegations began in cooperation with the Walton County School District.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Ms Gainey slamming down the arm of a non-verbal three-year-old during lunchtime, discarding the student’s food, and ignoring him for the remainder of the period. The video reportedly showed the child visibly crying and in apparent pain.
On Thursday, investigators conducted a medical evaluation of the child with the help of the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. Witnesses were also interviewed as part of the inquiry.
A warrant for Gainey’s arrest was issued Friday morning. She was taken into custody that afternoon in Okaloosa County and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.
“Our agency worked diligently to assess the full scope of the situation,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
“Her behavior is unacceptable, and the charges reflect that.”
