Para-educator charged with DUI, child cruelty for March incident

A para-educator at Elm Hill School pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of drunken driving and cruelty to a child for drinking while on the job last month and later attempting to drive her two young children away from the elementary school.

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Para-educator charged with DUI, child cruelty for March incident By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer | April 06,2016 Email Article Print Article SPRINGFIELD — A para-educator at Elm Hill School pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of drunken driving and cruelty to a child for drinking while on the job last month and later attempting to drive her two young children away from the elementary school. Lindsay Grace, 31, of Springfield, was released on conditions by Judge Theresa DiMauro at White River Junction criminal court. Grace, who also has an infant child, has been a para-educator at the K-2 school since last September. Her children, 6 and 7, were in Grace’s van. According to a 29-page affidavit filed by three detectives from the Springfield Police Department, Grace had been suspected of drinking during her breaks at the school March 18, and when she was confronted by Principal Dana Jacobson-Goodhue in the afternoon, she left the school with two of her children, who were students at the primary grade school. Teachers and aides told police that when Grace returned from an extra-long break in the morning, they could smell alcohol and she was acting inappropriately and not following school protocols. Grace was described to police by school staff members as a “teacher’s helper.” In particular, Grace let a student push another wheelchair-bound student — almost tipping the handicapped student over — a violation of school policy, the affidavit stated. Jacobson-Goodhue told police she consulted with Superintendent Zachary McLaughlin and an attorney that afternoon after complaints about Grace, and then told Grace she had to leave the school. According to the court documents, the principal had told Grace that she was being dismissed from the school for the day, and she could not return until she had met with McLaughlin. Grace then became upset and left the school. When Grace left, the principal immediately called Springfield Police, who responded and found Grace collapsed over the steering wheel of her van in the school parking lot. Police said they were in the vicinity at the time of the call and were able to get to the school in one minute. Grace’s two children were in the back seat and the key was not in the ignition, court records stated. There was an empty wine bottle on the front seat of the car, next to the keys. Grace was still wearing her school ID when police found her. Police statements said they found an empty single-serve wine bottle in the van, as well as another bottle of wine in a bag on the floor behind the van’s center console. Jacobson-Goodhue declined to comment Tuesday and referred all questions to McLaughlin, who didn’t return messages asking for comment. After police arrived on scene and had arrested Grace, Jacobson-Goodhue and teachers at Elm Hill took the two children back to the school and called Grace’s husband, Sam, to come and get the children. According to the police affidavits, Grace originally agreed to give a breath test, but on the condition that it not be in front of her children and not where anyone from the school building could see her. But she later reneged and refused to give a breath sample, and when handcuffed and placed in a cruiser, became difficult and belligerent. Police said her eyes were bloodshot and watery, and she was unstable on her feet, and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from her. Both charges are misdemeanors; the drunk driving, first offense charge carries a potential two-year sentence and a $750 fine, while the cruelty to a child also carries a potential two-year sentence and a $500 fine. Grace was ordered to return to court in about two weeks with an attorney.