MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee Public Schools paraprofessional is facing a felony child abuse charge after an incident with a student left him injured. The child’s mother is now questioning how this person was hired, screened, and trained before being placed around students.
Details of the incident
37-year-old Margaret Catherine Galligan-Nordquist is accused of physical abuse of a child intentionally causing bodily harm while working as a paraprofessional at Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies camp.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by 620 WTMJ, Milwaukee Police interviewed the 12-year-old boy involved on September 15.
He told police that he was participating in an after-school program at the school and was talking with friends before admitting that he “called a teacher in the room a ‘bitch’.”
The complaint says Galligan-Nordquist then allegedly approached him, grabbed him by the arm and then by the neck when he pulled away.
The boy told police that when he pulled away, Galligan-Nordquist allegedly grabbed him by the neck, “causing a visible scratch to his neck that broke his skin, causing pain and without his consent.”
Court documents show that Galligan-Nordquist admitted grabbing the child by the arm.
Police called, paraprofessional arrested
The boy’s mother Amaday Rodriguez tells WTMJ that her son’s account to her included additional allegations.
“What I got from my son was that she was grabbing his arms rough,” Rodriguez said. “He told her to please let him go, that he was going to notify the principal.”
“She proceeded to grab him by the neck, proceeding to basically choke my son,” she continued. “Dug her nails into his skin. Scratched him.”
Rodriguez says her son has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and she didn’t know Galligan-Nordquist had been working with him. She says her son told her the paraprofessional called him “slow”, “retarded”, and used profanity. Those allegations are not included in the criminal complaint.
She says Milwaukee police came to her home after the incident, interviewed her son, and photographed his injuries.
Court records show Galligan-Nordquist was arrested on September 16. She’s due back in court on September 25 for a preliminary hearing.
Mother: ‘Where did this para come from?‘
Rodriguez says her concerns extend beyond the criminal allegations filed against Galligan-Nordquist.
She says she knew who her son’s special education teacher was, but wasn’t told Galligan-Nordquist would be working directly with him. “He’s already assigned a SPED teacher, a special needs teacher,” Rodriguez said. “So I’m just trying to figure out, where did this para come from, and why was I never informed?”
Rodriguez says she was told Galligan-Nordquist may have been placed at the school through a temporary staffing agency. WTMJ has not independently confirmed that claim.
That has led Rodriguez to ask who employed Galligan-Nordquist, what background screening was conducted, what training she received, and what procedures were followed before she began working with her son.
Teacher noticed change following incident
Rodriguez provided WTMJ with messages exchanged with one of her son’s teachers following the alleged encounter.
The teacher wrote that the boy had a “very strong start to the year” and had been doing “extremely well” in class, following directions and participating positively in class.
The teacher recently noticed what she described as an “extreme difference in behavior” for the child, and Rodriguez told the teacher she believed the change was connected to what happened with the paraprofessional.
She said her son no longer trusted his teachers, with the teacher responding that the situation “must have been really upsetting and stressful” and that he “should be safe at school.”
The teacher also said she would work with Rodriguez and school staff, and reached out to school support personnel.
Statement to parents
In a letter sent to families and staff of Camp Trowbridge on September 16 obtained by WTMJ, Trowbridge’s principal says they are conducting their own investigation, and that Galligan-Nordquist no longer works in the building.
Dear Camp Trowbridge Families and Staff,
We value you as a member of the Camp Trowbridge community and we want to keep you informed.
Yesterday during camp, a student reported that they were allegedly scratched by a staff member. We immediately notified the Milwaukee Police Department, Child Protective Services and the student’s family. We are also conducting a full investigation as we would in any such case. The individual is not currently working in the building.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support as we continue to ensure that Camp Trowbridge remains a safe place for all. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at (414) 294-1900.
Sincerely,
Mr. Reiser
Principal, Trowbridge
Mother wants other parents to ask questions
Rodriguez says what happened has changed how she looks at the people assigned to work with children receiving special-education services. “We are advocates of our children,” Rodriguez said. “When they cannot speak for themselves, we have to speak for them.”
She says parents should ask who is working with their children, what qualifications they have, and what training they have received. “I just don’t want this to happen to other kids,” Rodriguez said. “I just want kids to feel safe and protected when they go to school.”
Questions remain for MPS
WTMJ has reached out to to Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) regarding how many employees, paraprofessionals or contracted workers have been investigated, suspended, removed, or terminated following allegations of inappropriate physical contact with students since January 2025, and how many of those cases involved students receiving special-education services.
WTMJ also contacted the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) seeking its response and information about paraprofessional staffing, training, screening, and student safety.
Neither MPS nor MTEA have responded to WTMJ’s requests for comment.
