Biondi School Teaching Assistant Charged With Endangering 11-Year-Old

YONKERS, NY — An educator trusted to care for vulnerable students is facing criminal charges in connection with allegations of abuse in the classroom.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced Friday that a teaching assistant at the Biondi School in Yonkers was charged with endangering the welfare of an 11-year-old student in a classroom.

"The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him as an educator and harmed one of the students in his care," Rocah said in a statement announcing the charges. "My office is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and holding those who harm them accountable."

Suleiman Rabadi, who was employed as a teaching assistant at the Biondi School, a kindergarten to 12th grade special education school in Yonkers, was arrested by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and arraigned in Yonkers City Court on Aug. 2. The 36-year-old Yonkers man was charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

On March 9, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Rabadi, who was overseeing a time-out period at the school, grabbed an 11-year-old student by the back of his neck and repeatedly pushed the victim’s head down to his knees, according to allegations. He is also accused of pushing the victim to the ground.

Most of the incident was captured on surveillance video, according to prosecutors.

The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Child Abuse Bureau and Criminal Investigators from the Special Prosecutions Unit conducted the investigation with the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

Rabadi was arraigned in Yonkers City Court and is being prosecuted by Child Abuse Bureau Chief Christine Hatfield of the Special Prosecutions Division. Rabadi is scheduled to appear again in Yonkers City Court on Sept. 5.

Anyone who may have been victimized by Rabadi or may have information about other possible victims is being asked to contact the DA’s Office Special Prosecutions Division at (914) 995-3000. Language assistance is available.