A Garland mom says her son with autism was pinned down by a teacher’s aide at school. The aide faces assault charges and is no longer an employee at the district.
GARLAND, Texas — When 14-year-old Jace Broome isn’t at school, he loves spending time on the water and traveling with his family. His mom, Sarah, says he’s happiest with his dog, Honey, too.
Jace, who has autism and an intellectual disability, can’t always express his feelings with words. But this past February, Sarah had a gut feeling something was wrong inside her son’s classroom at Webb Middle School in Garland.
She said Jace came home one day with a mark on his face and complained of chest pains. “He kept saying how they hurt him,” Sarah recalled.
Initially, she thought it happened while he was being restrained, which can sometimes happen. But she said after a week of back and forth with the school, she grew increasingly concerned and asked to see the video from inside the classroom.
“It makes me sick,” said Sarah. “Their story fell apart and they lied about it.”
Sarah said she and her husband saw the video, something Garland Police also reviewed.
Officials confirm that Rosa Mendiola, a 40-year-old teacher’s aide, is now facing a charge of assault against a disabled person.
According to Sarah, the incident began when Jace came out of the restroom and went to retrieve his Chromebook after being told not to. That’s when, she says, the aide lashed out.
“She struggled with him and then eventually put her boot on his neck and his chest to pin him down,” Sarah said. “Three people held him down while she did what she needed to do, or what she felt that she needed to do to him.”
In a statement, Garland ISD said, “The incident in question was reported and immediately investigated in February 2025. The individual involved is no longer employed with Garland ISD. Our top priority is ensuring that every student has a safe and positive learning environment, and we do not tolerate any behavior that compromises this commitment.”
For Sarah, the decision to keep Jace in school has been difficult. She kept him home for the remainder of the school year. But this fall, he returned to Webb Middle School with a teacher the family trusts.
She said Jace still brings up the incident.
“He always asks if someone is going to whoop him,” Sarah said. “I have no idea what kind of impact this is going to have over the years.”
Sarah hopes video in classrooms for students with special needs will be available regularly for families to view, not just upon request. She also plans to keep a close eye on Jace and do drop-ins as needed at school.
“No child should be in that position at all,” she said. “I just hope that somehow people can take a step back and realize that these kids just need time and patience.”