German Gerena Community (Elementary) School, Springfield, Massachusetts

Wednesday, November 17, 1999

A 10-year-old fifth-grader refused to get on the bus this afternoon and got out of control. He hit, kicked and spit upon 32-year-old classroom aide Maribel Gonzalez while she was trying to subdue the boy. Maribel, who has asthma, was kicked in the chest, rushed to the hospital and died two hours later.

Source: National School Safety Center’s Report on School Associated Violent Deaths; National School Safety and Security Services web site

To help honor Maribel Gonzalez