Boerne, Texas: Montessori Teacher Arrested for Child Abuse
A Montessori teacher in Boerne, Texas was arrested on Tuesday, November 26, after surveillance footage revealed that he used excessive force against three toddlers. The suspect, Alfredo Xavier Marmolejo, 29, now faces three charges of injury to a child according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident took place at Excelled Montessori Preschool, located at 27521 W I 10 Frontage Road. Authorities from the Child Safe Investigators unit were called to the preschool where they reviewed video evidence of the alleged abuse.
Details of the Incident
The footage showed alarming behavior by Marmolejo. He was observed grabbing a two-year-old child by the arm, aggressively pointing his finger at the child’s face, and dragging the child away. In a distressing moment, he picked up the child and slammed them down onto a chair.
Another action recorded involved Marmolejo slapping a different two-year-old on the back of the head, causing the child to fall to the ground. The video also depicted him walking into a third toddler, leading this child to fall and hit their head on a table.
The report from the Sheriff’s Office mentioned that after these incidents, Marmolejo was seen yelling at the child he had previously dragged while ignoring the well-being of the other children involved.
Response from Excelled Montessori
Following the arrest, Excelled Montessori released a statement addressing the serious nature of the allegations. “At Excelled Montessori, the safety, well-being, and trust of our students and their families are our highest priorities,” the statement read. They confirmed that Marmolejo was immediately terminated from his position once they became aware of the situation and that they had self-reported the matter to the authorities.
The school emphasized their commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children. They also reached out to families of the students to reassure them of the school’s dedication to the safety of their children and invited them to discuss any concerns they might have.
Investigation and Public Appeal
During questioning, Marmolejo reportedly expressed that he “did not think what happened in the classroom was that bad,” attributing his actions to having allowed “his emotions [to] get the best” of him. The case has drawn significant concern from the community and has raised questions regarding teacher supervision and child safety within educational environments.
Authorities are actively seeking any additional information regarding Marmolejo and the incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out by calling 210-335-6000 or emailing bcsotips@bexar.org.
This incident underscores the critical need for heightened vigilance and safeguarding measures in preschool settings, as they play a pivotal role in nurturing the emotional and physical development of young children.
