Crime
Rhode Island woman, teacher, allegedly assaults multiple special needs students at elementary school
A Rhode Island woman and teacher is accused of assaulting special needs students.
According to police, on February 11th, 2026, Cumberland Police Department personnel responded to Blackstone Valley Prep, 310 Broad Street, Cumberland, for the report of a teacher who was alleged to have assaulted two separate special needs students by slapping them in the head while at the Elementary School (52 Broad Street). The school was alerted to this conduct late in the afternoon on the previous day and contacted the Police Department first thing in the morning of the 11th.
While investigating these complaints, a 3rd victim’s family responded to Police Headquarters to report an additional similar incident with the same suspected teacher. After thoroughly investigating the allegations, and with the assistance of the Aubin Child Protection Center, an arrest warrant was drafted and signed for 39-year-old female, Djamila Vaz Rosa of Pawtucket for three counts of 2nd Degree Child Abuse; all felonies.
Vaz Rosa turned herself into Cumberland Police Wednesday, was arraigned before a Justice of the Peace, and later released. Vaz Rosa has no prior criminal history.
Cumberland Police Chief Matthew Benson offered, “Students should feel safe in schools and classrooms with those entrusted with caring for and educating them. In this circumstance, that was not the case. I appreciate the staff at Blackstone Valley Prep for alerting us when they did so we could immediately begin our investigation and ultimately hold this individual accountable for their alleged conduct. Such behavior should never be tolerated with any teacher, let alone one in a classroom with such vulnerable students.”
