Fall River School Committee Member Kevin Aguiar issues statement after resignation as Westport Elementary principal

A Fall River School Committee Member is speaking out after accusations being made after leaving his post at another district.

According to a statement by Fran Roy, Superintendent of Westport Community Schools, an unnamed classroom teacher assistant who worked at Westport Elementary School resigned after the teacher assistant used excessive physical force with a student with disabilities.

“Westport Police and Massachusetts DCF investigated this incident and Westport Community Schools are cooperating with those investigations. The safety of our students is our top priority and conduct of this type by any staff toward any student is absolutely unacceptable and has no place in our schools.”

The announcement came a day after Kevin Aguiar resigned from his position as principal of Westport Elementary School. Aguiar had served the school community since July 2023.

Fall River Reporter received the following statement from Aguiar through his attorney addressing his departure from the school and what proceeded it.

Please accept this correspondence as Mr. Aguiar’s official statement in response to his recent resignation from the Westport Public School Department. Mr. Aguiar’s statement is in response to the numerous false statements, misinformation, and concerns regarding his recent departure from the Westport School Department. 

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at approximately 10:00 A.M., Principal Aguiar, the Superintendent, Director of Curriculum, and Vice Principal were participating in a previously scheduled Superintendent walk-through and classroom observation. 

While Principal Aguiar, the Superintendent, Director of Curriculum, and Vice Principal were in the same classroom, performing the planned walk-through, a noise was heard in the hallway. All individuals present, including Principal Aguiar, the Superintendent, Director of Curriculum, and the Vice Principal heard the same random noise in the hallway. Immediately, Principal Aguiar responded to the matter and left the three other Administrators to continue their classroom observation. 

Upon looking out the classroom door to his left, Principal Aguiar witnessed a teaching assistant engaging in inappropriate conduct while tending to a male student. Principal Aguiar witnessed a teaching assistant physically re-direct a student into the adjacent classroom in what Principal Aguiar considered an inappropriate manner. The teaching assistant and student then entered the adjacent classroom where a classroom teacher was present. At no time was the student in imminent danger, distress, crying, flailing, or resisting the actions of the teaching assistant. Just prior to Principal Aguiar’s stepping in the hallway, a Westport School Teacher, can be seen in the video observing the entire incident between the teaching assistant and the student. At no time did the teacher intervene or report this incident to Administration, supporting Principal Aguiar’s assertion that the student did not appear to be in imminent distress, harm, or danger. 

After completing the walk-through and debriefing, approximately 30-40 minutes later, Principal Aguiar instructed the Vice Principal to obtain the video and to immediately commence an investigation, inclusive of scheduling a meeting with the teaching assistant and her union representation as is the teaching assistant’s contractual right. 

Principal Aguiar next contacted the Director of Special Education several times by phone and email requesting her to come to the Westport Elementary School and meet with the teaching assistant and her union representative. Principal Aguiar continued his investigation by speaking with the Director of Special Education, Director of Human Resources, and the Superintendent on the same day of this incident. 

Upon review of the video and after careful consultation with the central office, school and district administrators, it was agreed by all, that the Director of Special Education would immediately contact the students’ parents and inform them of what transpired, file a 51A with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and place the teaching assistant on immediate leave. Principal Aguiar continued to monitor the investigation. 

Principal Aguiar returned to work on November 6th, 7th, and 10th without incident. On November 10th, five days after the initial investigation, the teaching assistant resigned from her position. 

At no time did Principal Aguiar delete video or intervene to support a staff member who was clearly in the wrong, or engage in a “cover-up.” Principal Aguiar followed all appropriate Westport School Department policies and procedures to investigate and to dismiss the teaching assistant the same day of the incident. 

The reason for Principal’s Aguiar’s resignation was based solely upon Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71, section(s) 41 and 42 which states as follows: 

“A principal, assistant principal, department head or other supervisor who has served in that position in the public schools of the district for THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS shall not be dismissed or demoted except for good cause.” Since Principal Aguiar was not in his position as Principal for three consecutive years, based upon M.G.L. c. 71, sec. 41 & 42, the Westport School Department was not obligated to furnish Principal Aguiar with a “written notice of intent to dismiss with an explanation of the grounds for the dismissal…” This is exactly, what occurred. Simply put, but for the fact that Principal Aguiar had not been employed as a Principal for three consecutive years the Superintendent of Westport School Department was within their right to take the action they did. 

What cannot be disputed is the fact that it was Principal Aguiar’s actions alone… which led to the dismissal/resignation of a teaching assistant, who might otherwise had continued to be employed by the Westport School Department, while posing an immediate and future risk to all students. Had Principal Aguiar not investigated and intervened immediately upon hearing the unfamiliar noise in the hallway, Principal Aguiar would still be serving the Westport community and the Westport Public School Department. 

Principal Aguiar has always demonstrated a commitment to his profession and the Westport School Department. He has consistently provided appropriate care and concern for all students and Westport School Department staff. 

Principal Aguiar understands that there has been a copious amount of misinformation disseminated both in public and published on various social media platforms. Mr. Aguiar’s sole intent is to be transparent and provide the facts as they occurred. At no time did Principal Aguiar delete school video or fail to take immediate steps to investigate and implement corrective action while strictly adhering to all Westport School Department’s policies and procedures.