The mother of a first-grader testified before a grand jury Wednesday that a teacher's aide assaulted her daughter.
Brenda Kleinfeldt, 35, is accused of grabbing 6-year-old Maryah Rodriguez and shoving her against a chair Friday. Rodriguez's mother, Maribel Cruz, said Kleinfeldt wanted her daughter to be quiet while students watched a movie at P.S. 332 in Brownsville. The girl later showed authorities a bruise on her abdomen that her mother said is the result of the incident.
Kleinfeldt is charged with assault, menacing, endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment and harassment.
The aide's supporters have said she is not a violent person. However, the Department of Education has suspended Kleinfeldt without pay.