Schenectady School Staff Pleads Guilty in Abuse Case
A paraprofessional is on probation after school mistreatment, leaving local families concerned about student safety.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Special Education
A Schenectady school district paraprofessional has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child following incidents at Lincoln Elementary School. This follows a ten-month period where three employees have faced disciplinary or criminal actions regarding student mistreatment.
Why it matters
Parents of students in the Schenectady school district are re-evaluating safety and communication protocols after multiple incidents of staff misconduct. The pattern of delayed notifications in past cases has created significant concerns regarding school oversight.
Eva Buchanan, age 47, pleaded guilty to endangering a nonverbal student with autism after incidents on September 30 and October 3, 2025. She faces one year of probation, while Patti Tashman, age 69, is scheduled for sentencing on November 10, 2026.
The players
Eva Buchanan
A 47-year-old paraprofessional employed by the Schenectady school district who pleaded guilty to endangering a student.
Patti Tashman
A 69-year-old school employee facing a November 2026 sentencing for her role in student mistreatment.
Lincoln Elementary School
A local institution that served as the site for multiple documented incidents of student mistreatment.
The details
Surveillance footage captured the mistreatment that led to the criminal complaint filed by a detective on January 22, 2026. Buchanan agreed to a plea to avoid potential jail time, with a condition that her plea may be withdrawn if she successfully completes one year of probation. The district has seen two prior resignations of teachers following separate reports of student mistreatment.
Timeline
September 30, 2025: Date of the first incident involving Eva Buchanan.
October 3, 2025: Date of the second incident involving Eva Buchanan.
January 22, 2026: Date a detective filed a criminal complaint against Buchanan.
November 10, 2026: Scheduled sentencing date for Patti Tashman.
The Home Front
The recurring staff misconduct at Lincoln Elementary reflects a systemic failure in district transparency and student safety protocols. These events highlight an ongoing trend of poor communication between school administration and Schenectady families.
Families with students in the Schenectady school district should review current school board communication policies and document any past notification concerns. You may consider requesting a meeting with school leadership to clarify safety oversight procedures for your child's classroom.
The takeaway
The recent guilty plea underscores the importance of staying engaged with district safety reports and school board meetings. Parents should keep contact information for district administrators on file to ensure they receive timely updates regarding classroom personnel changes.
Further reading
For more on local school safety standards, read the Special Education section.
