Schenectady Aide Pleads Guilty to Child Endangerment
A paraprofessional admits to mistreating a nonverbal student with autism at a local school.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Special Education
Eva Buchanan pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child following incidents involving a nonverbal student with autism. The guilty plea comes after surveillance footage captured the misconduct.
Why it matters
The case is part of a troubling pattern where three school employees have faced legal or disciplinary action for mistreating students within the district over ten months. Concerns have also been raised regarding the district's failure to notify parents promptly about past incidents.
Eva Buchanan, 47, faces a one-year probation period following her plea. The incident record includes two separate events involving a student at Lincoln Elementary School.
The players
Eva Buchanan
A 47-year-old paraprofessional who pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child.
Patti Tashman
A 69-year-old individual involved in a separate school-related disciplinary or criminal matter.
Lincoln Elementary School
The educational institution that employed two of the three staff members involved in student mistreatment reports.
The details
Surveillance cameras recorded the mistreatment of a student on September 30 and October 3, 2025. Buchanan entered the plea to avoid potential jail time, with the option to withdraw it if she adheres to all probation restrictions for one year.
Timeline
September 30, 2025: The first incident involving Eva Buchanan occurred.
October 3, 2025: The second incident involving Eva Buchanan occurred.
January 22, 2026: A police detective filed a criminal complaint against Buchanan.
November 10, 2026: Patti Tashman is scheduled for sentencing.
Culture Shift
These incidents highlight a broader movement demanding greater accountability and transparency within special education settings. The shift forces districts to confront systemic failures in supervision and parental communication protocols.
Parents with students in the district may require additional meetings with administration to verify school safety and reporting procedures. Residents should remain aware of upcoming board meetings where district oversight and security measures are discussed.
The takeaway
Maintaining strict oversight in classrooms is essential for the safety of students with special needs. Parents are encouraged to maintain open communication with district leadership to ensure that all safety concerns are addressed in a timely manner.
What happens next
Patti Tashman is scheduled to face sentencing on November 10, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on district policies, visit the Special Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times Union.
