Montgomery County paraeducator accused of kicking child with autism

A paraeducator in Montgomery County was charged with child abuse Monday after she was accused of kicking an elementary-school-aged child with autism in the chest because the boy drank some of her soda.

Meleni Hoffman, 32, faces felony abuse and misdemeanor assault charges in Rockville District Court, where she is scheduled for a hearing next month.

Hoffman, who has not been arrested, did not respond to messages left on a publicly listed phone number. As of Wednesday, a lawyer was not listed as representing her in court records.

Investigators say that on April 9, at Candlewood Elementary, Hoffman took out a snack “that interested the kids in the class,” causing them to gather around her. One child ran over and “took a sip of her soda,” police said...

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/08/21/montgomery-county-paraeducator-accused-of-kicking-child-with-autism/?share=wec8agytaelaskoumum2

Candlewood PTA on boundary changes, traffic flow, traffic lights, sidewalks

  Candlewood Elementary PTA 5-15-17 by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 9:00 a.m. PLANNING BOARD MEETING

UPPER ROCK CREEK, Candlewood Elementary School Modernization, review Mandatory Referral and Forest Conservation Plan* for demolition of existing structure and construction of a new elementary school on the existing site at 7210 Osprey Dr., Derwood

Unless otherwise noted, public testimony allowed on individual items (except briefings and discussions).

Listen to live audio feed or view live video feed of Planning Board sessions over the internet with link on their website.  The Planning Board Viewer works best with use of Microsoft's Silverlight free plug-in.  Information on Silverlight (and link to free software download) available on this webpage:
http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/faq/#sys-req

To view entire Planning Board agenda, go towww.montgomeryplanningboard.org --in menu on left side of screen, click on "agenda".  The Board's agenda is now posted as an HTML document, which does not require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

Sign up online to testify on an item before the Planning Board, up to 10 days prior to the hearing, by going to http://www.montgomeryapps.org:80/planning_board/testify.asp , or call 301-495-4600 before 4:00 p.m. the day before the meeting.  On the day of the meeting, see the clerk in the auditorium to sign up.

-Excerpts compiled and distributed by Jim Humphrey