The Brief
- Former MPS aide Demitrios Visvardis is charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly slapping a student with cerebral palsy.
- Visvardis pleaded not guilty on Jan. 26; his next court hearing is set for Feb. 23.
- The victim’s family is demanding hiring reforms following three similar cases of staff-on-student abuse within a year.
MILWAUKEE – Former Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) paraprofessional Demitrios Visvardis is charged with misdemeanor battery. Prosecutors say he slapped an 18-year-old special needs student at Riverside University High School in November 2025.
On Monday, Jan. 26, Visvardis pleaded not guilty. He will be back in court for a deferred prosecution agreement hearing on Feb. 23.
Misdemeanor battery accusations
What we know:
After more than two months, Shirley Dunn said her daughter, Shrone, still has trouble sleeping. The nightmares started in November, when the 18-year-old girl with cerebral palsy was a student at Milwaukee’s Riverside University High School. That is when prosecutors said Visvardis slapped Shrone. The entire thing was caught on camera.
Court records show the incident happened in the hallway while Visvardis was helping Dunn put on her shoes. That is when a struggle started. …