SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A former California principal accused of failing to report the suspected sexual abuse of a young student at her school tearfully told jurors that she believed a teacher when he told her the reason he had blindfolded the girl and put something in her mouth was to teach her about Helen Keller.

Lyn Vijayendran, onetime principal of San Jose’s O.B. Whaley Elementary School, testified Thursday that the second-grade teacher appeared forthright and “looked me right in the eye” when he explained that what had happened was part of a classroom lesson.