Who Is Dina Fanella? Las Vegas Special Education Teacher Arrest

Dina Fanella is a 54-year-old Clark County School District special education teacher who was arrested after police accused her of using force against two nonverbal autistic students at Rex Bell Elementary School in Las Vegas.

Police allege one child fell into a table and suffered a forehead wound requiring stitches after Fanella pushed him. A classroom aide separately accused Fanella of striking another student on the hand. Fanella denied intentionally injuring either child and pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges in September 2026.

What Is Dina Fanella Accused Of?

Clark County School District police accuse Fanella of using force against two nonverbal students with autism during separate incidents at Rex Bell Elementary School in August 2026. An arrest report says a teacher’s aide told investigators she witnessed both incidents. [News 3]

In the first incident, the aide alleged that Fanella pushed a student, causing the child to fall and strike his head against the corner of a table. The student suffered a cut to his forehead that required medical treatment. [8 News Now]

The second alleged incident occurred the following day and involved another student in Fanella’s classroom. Police say the aide reported seeing Fanella grab the child’s hand and strike it with an open hand after the student attempted to reach for toys. [News 3]

Dina Fanella Faces Two Felonies And A Misdemeanor

Las Vegas Justice Court records list three criminal charges against Fanella: child abuse or neglect resulting in substantial bodily harm, battery resulting in substantial bodily harm and battery. The first two charges are felonies, while the remaining battery allegation is a misdemeanor. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

Under Nevada law, child abuse or neglect resulting in substantial bodily harm can constitute a Category B felony. In qualifying cases, the offense can carry a sentence of between two and 20 years in state prison. [Nevada Revised Statutes]

Battery that results in substantial bodily harm without a deadly weapon is generally a Category C felony under Nevada law. Category C felonies generally carry between one and five years in prison and can include a fine of up to $10,000. [Nevada Revised Statutes] [Nevada Revised Statutes]

A Student Suffered A Head Wound That Required Stitches

The most serious allegation involves an August 27 incident in which a student suffered an approximately one-inch wound to his forehead. The teacher’s aide told investigators the child approached Fanella from behind and Fanella extended her arm and pushed him, causing him to fall into a table. [8 News Now]

A campus security monitor told investigators that he entered the classroom and saw the child bleeding from his head. He said Fanella told him that the student had been running, tripped and struck his head. The security monitor escorted the child to the school nurse. [8 News Now]

The nurse told police that the wound was approximately one inch long and that the child was “oozing blood.” The injury required stitches. [8 News Now]

What Did Dina Fanella Say Happened?

Fanella denied deliberately pushing the student into the table. She told police the child grabbed her arm and that she shook her arm in an effort to free herself. Fanella said the student then released her, ran away, tripped and struck his head. [News 3]

Her version of events differs from the account attributed to the classroom aide, who told investigators she saw Fanella extend her arm and push the student. The competing accounts are among the factual issues that could be contested as the criminal case proceeds.

Fanella Is Also Accused Of Striking Another Student’s Hand

A second incident allegedly occurred on August 28, one day after the student suffered the head injury. The aide told investigators that another student attempted to take toys he was not supposed to be playing with. [8 News Now]

The aide alleged Fanella grabbed the student’s hand, struck it with an open hand and told the child to stop. Police said the student did not have a visible injury but appeared to hold his hand as though it hurt. [8 News Now]

Fanella denied hitting the second student. [8 News Now]

The Students Are Nonverbal And Have Autism

The principal told investigators that both children involved in the allegations are nonverbal students with autism. Fanella was listed by Rex Bell Elementary School as a primary autism teacher in the school’s special education program. [8 News Now] [Rex Bell Elementary School]

The children’s identities have not been publicly released. Because they are minors, their names are not included here.

A Teacher’s Aide Says Fanella Warned Her Not To Report The Incident

The classroom aide also alleged that Fanella warned her that she could lose her job if she told anyone about the incident in which the first student was injured. The allegation is included in the police report obtained by local news organizations. [News 3]

Fanella told investigators that she did not recall threatening the aide or telling her she would lose her job for discussing what happened. [8 News Now]

Police And Parents Were Not Immediately Notified

The arrest report indicates that police and the children’s parents or guardians were not immediately notified about the alleged incidents. The school principal told investigators he received conflicting information about what occurred and began questioning the circumstances surrounding the student’s injury. [8 News Now]

Police also noted that school staff did not take photographs documenting the alleged injuries at the time. Investigators eventually contacted the mothers of both children by telephone and informed them about the incidents. [8 News Now]

How Did The Investigation Into Dina Fanella Begin?

Clark County School District police were dispatched to Rex Bell Elementary School on August 31 following a report that a teacher had battered two students. Officers interviewed school employees and reviewed the circumstances surrounding the two alleged incidents. [8 News Now]

Police initially issued Fanella a citation. Authorities later amended the charges, which led officers to take her into custody at the school on September 1. [FOX 5 Vegas]

Dina Fanella Was Arrested On September 1

CCSD Police arrested Fanella at Rex Bell Elementary School on September 1 and booked her into the Clark County Detention Center. She was subsequently released from custody while the case proceeds through Las Vegas Justice Court. [8 News Now]

Court records cited by 8 News Now say Fanella must comply with directives from Child Protective Services and cannot have contact with minors other than her own children while the case is pending. [8 News Now]

Dina Fanella Pleaded Not Guilty

Fanella pleaded not guilty to the charges on September 8, 2026. Her attorney declined to comment publicly about the case when contacted by 8 News Now. [8 News Now]

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 26. At that stage, prosecutors can present evidence supporting the felony charges and a judge can determine whether there is sufficient probable cause for the case to continue. [8 News Now]

CCSD Placed Dina Fanella On Paid Leave

The Clark County School District said Fanella will be placed on paid administrative leave while the case proceeds. District officials said the leave status is governed by the negotiated agreement with the employee bargaining unit. [FOX 5 Vegas]

Fanella was most recently assigned to Rex Bell Elementary School, located near Valley View Boulevard and Desert Inn Road in Las Vegas. The school’s staff directory identified her as a primary autism teacher. [Rex Bell Elementary School]

How Long Has Dina Fanella Worked For Clark County Schools?

Fanella has worked for the Clark County School District since March 2006. CCSD confirmed her employment history following news of the arrest. [FOX 5 Vegas]

Nevada Department of Education records cited by 8 News Now show that Fanella has taught in Nevada since approximately the 2006-2007 school year and holds a valid Nevada teaching license. [8 News Now]

Who Is Dina Fanella?

Dina Fanella is a 54-year-old longtime Nevada educator and special education teacher employed by the Clark County School District. Before her arrest, she worked with autistic students at Rex Bell Elementary School and was identified on the school’s staff directory as its primary autism teacher. [Rex Bell Elementary School]

Her September 2026 arrest attracted attention because the alleged victims were nonverbal special education students and because one child suffered an injury requiring stitches.

Where Does The Dina Fanella Case Stand?

As of September 17, 2026, Fanella has pleaded not guilty and is no longer being held in jail. She remains subject to court-ordered restrictions involving contact with minors, while CCSD has said she will be placed on paid leave. [8 News Now]

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 26. Fanella has been charged but has not been convicted, and the allegations in the police report remain accusations unless they are proven in court.