HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A teacher who allegedly handled a second grade student inappropriately at Guahan Academy Charter School has been arrested and is no longer an employee of the school.
The parent of the second grade student told The Guam Daily Post that the child was confused by a question the teacher, identified as Anica Gumataotao, had posed. The confusion allegedly prompted Gumataotao to yell at the student.
“Yelling at a second grader, of course he began to cry. She went and grabbed him out of his desk and dragged him to the sink to wash his face,” the parent said.
At the time the incident occurred, the teacher’s assistant was also in the room and witnessed what transpired, the parent said.
The parent said the GACS administration in turn sent Gumataotao home for the day.
After the incident Gumataotao allegedly apologized to the student’s parents through an email.
“This is Mrs. G. I would like to apologize for my actions on Friday, things just got out of hand and I made a mistake,” Gumataotao said in the email.
She proceeded to explain to the parents why she may have acted in the manner she did with the student.
“I have three children of my own who are on the Autism spectrum, myself included, and my way of handling them overlapped with my teaching,” Gumataotao said in the email.
Gumataotao further admitted it was “no excuse,” and offered her “sincerest apologies.”
“I can only imagine what you are going through having heard what happened. I offer my sincerest apologies,” Gumataotao said. “I will be taking steps to assure you that this type of thing will not happen again.”
A police report was filed with the Guam International Airport Police, which led to an investigation.
The parent confirmed that Gumataotao was subsequently arrested and released.
GACS Assistant Principal Maria Barque-Singh confirmed that Gumataotao is no longer employed with the school.
The Guahan Academy Charter School campus is seen Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, in Tiyan, Barrigada. Frank San Nicolas/The Guam Daily Post
