News Summary
Yaritza Martinez, a behavioral specialist at Lillian Feinstein Elementary School, was arrested for allegedly biting a 6-year-old student after an altercation involving painting activities. The incident, which took place in her office away from other witnesses, has raised concerns within the school community. Principal Maria Petrosinelli confirmed that the school has taken immediate action, placing Martinez on paid leave pending investigation. Parents have been assured that student safety is a top priority as investigations continue into both this incident and unrelated unprofessional behavior by another teacher.
Providence – A behavioral specialist at Lillian Feinstein Elementary School, Yaritza Martinez, was arrested for allegedly biting a 6-year-old student on September 5. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. in Martinez’s office, away from other witnesses, according to police reports.
The altercation reportedly began after the student threw paint across the room when denied permission to engage in painting activities. In response, Martinez allegedly bit the child on the back and struck him on the neck, leaving visible marks on the student’s skin. The police chief noted that the bite was described as “minor” and did not break the skin.
The incident was not brought to the attention of the student’s guardian until after school had dismissed for the day. Reports indicate that the school principal, Maria Petrosinelli, intended to notify the family during dismissal but was preoccupied and could not do so at that time. Subsequently, the child’s father called the school expressing anger regarding the incident.
After the incident was reported, Yaritza Martinez voluntarily turned herself in to the police and is now facing charges of simple assault or battery. A pre-trial conference for Martinez has been scheduled for November 7. In the meantime, school district officials confirmed that she has been placed on paid leave pending further investigation.
The incident has raised additional concerns within the school. An unnamed teacher is also under investigation for unrelated “alleged unprofessional behavior.” Following the reported incident, the Providence School District took immediate action. A spokesperson noted that both the Providence Police and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families were notified according to established protocols.
Martinez has been employed with the Providence School District since 2021. Following these events, Principal Petrosinelli reassured families that the safety and well-being of students is of utmost priority, emphasizing that any breaches of trust within the school will not be tolerated. To support the affected child and their family, the school administration activated a Student Support Services team to offer care and guidance.
Incidents like these raise serious concerns about the safety and care provided to students in educational environments. The ongoing investigations will seek to ascertain the complete facts surrounding the incident and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect students.
The events at Lillian Feinstein Elementary underscore the necessity for vigilance and proper conduct by school staff, as well as the importance of transparent communication with students’ families regarding any incidents that occur within school premises.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Globe: Providence Teacher Bites Student
- GoLocalProv: Providence Schools Employee Arrested
- Turn to 10: Providence School Behavior Interventionist Accused
- ABC6: Providence Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Biting Student
- GoLocalProv: Multiple Incidents of Staff Unprofessional Behavior Reported
- Wikipedia: School Violence
- Google Search: Student Safety in Schools
- Google Scholar: School Staff Behavior Management
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Teacher
- Google News: School Incidents
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
