If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
CHEYENNE, WYOMING: A Wyoming music teacher faced the Cheyenne Circuit Court on Thursday, August 10, to plead not guilty to child endangerment charges in connection with the tragic death of Paul Pine, 11.
Amelia Giordano from Carpenter Elementary School was charged following the suicide of young Pine in January. Appearing alongside her attorney, Mary Ames, Giordano's case has sparked discussions about the challenges teachers face in maintaining a supportive environment for students while juggling various responsibilities.
Who is Amelia Giordano?
Giordano, 31, is an accomplished educator with a rich background in fostering music education and holistic learning. She has been a Preschool to 6th Grade General Music Teacher at Laramie County School District #2 since April 2019.
She has over a decade of experience as a private music teacher, creating tailored curricula that engage and suit the needs of individual students. Giordano's commitment to children's well-being is evident through her roles as a nanny and teacher's assistant at The Neighborhood School and Laramie County Community College.
Giordano has a Bachelor's degree in Music Teacher Education K-12 from the University of Wyoming.
What happened to Paul Pine?
In October 2022, 11-year-old Pine opened up to his family about his suicide plan, detailing his intention to end his life in a school bathroom. His mother took him to the emergency room at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, leading to his inpatient treatment and a week of missed school.
On his parents' persistent efforts to secure proper assistance, Pine's family, along with the school, came up with a strategy to prevent unsupervised bathroom trips. However, Pine hanged himself in the bathroom of Carpenter Elementary on January 9, just one month short of his 12th birthday.
Chandel, his mother, believes the school let him down by not adhering to the established procedure. The family obtained video footage showing Giordano and another teacher looking into the boys' bathroom multiple times over a span of 17 minutes without taking action.
It was only when the school's principal entered that the situation changed as he was the one to discover Pine. The principal administered CPR until he was airlifted to the hospital, where he was declared dead.
What are the charges against Amelia Giordano?
Giordano faced charges for allowing Pine, a child with a history of suicidal thoughts, to use the bathroom unsupervised. She is facing a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment, which could lead to a year in prison and $1,000 in fines.
Currently released on her own recognizance, a scheduling conference is planned for November 2, with instructions to refrain from contacting Pine's family, as reported by Daily Mail.
