Abuse of a Disabled Student in a Texas School

The superintendent of the Millsap school district and two educators were arrested Thursday after the teachers were caught on video abusing a disabled student, authorities told the Weatherford Democrat.

The student’s mother shared the abuse allegations in a video posted to Facebook on March 10. The video has since been made unavailable.

Incident Details

The video shows one special education teacher at Millsap Elementary School attempting to slap the 10-year-old boy across the face and another teacher throwing an object at him, according to the parent.

The Parker County Sheriff’s Office subsequently said Friday that witnesses reported life skills educator Paxton Bean physically assaulting juvenile students.

Bean and Jennifer Dale, another educator, also reportedly committed mental and verbal abuse against disabled elementary students which included taunting, mocking, threats, profanity and extensive “timeouts.”

Charges and Arrests

The superintendent, Edie Martin, faces a felony charge of failure to report with the intent to conceal, according to jail records. The child’s mother, Carissa Kozak Cornelius, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the incident in her son Alex’s classroom happened Feb. 18, but Martin didn’t notify her until Feb. 28 and even then didn’t tell her that the incident involved her son.

Dale is charged with official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, according to the Parker County sheriff’s office. Bean is charged with official oppression and injury to a child with intentional bodily injury, a third-degree felony.

Paxton and Martin turned themselves in to Parker County sheriff’s investigators, according to a Friday news release from the sheriff’s office. It said Dale turned herself in at the Palo Pinto County Jail.

Response from the School District

A school board meeting was scheduled for Friday morning to consider a “separation agreement” with the superintendent, according to an agenda on the school district’s website.

Millsap is a small North Texas town about 15 miles west of Weatherford in Parker County.

Related Issues

The incident raises concerns about the treatment of students with disabilities in schools and the need for greater accountability and support for these students.

The U.S. Education Department has proposed staff cuts, which could limit options for kids with disabilities. Additionally, a school discipline overhaul in Texas could impact students and teachers.

Conclusion

The abuse of a disabled student in a Texas school is a disturbing incident that highlights the need for greater awareness and action to prevent such incidents in the future. It is essential for schools to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students, including those with disabilities.

FAQs

Q: What happened in the incident? A: A video showed a special education teacher attempting to slap a 10-year-old disabled boy across the face and another teacher throwing an object at him.

Q: Who was arrested? A: The superintendent, Edie Martin, and two educators, Paxton Bean and Jennifer Dale, were arrested in connection with the incident.

Q: What charges do they face? A: Martin faces a felony charge of failure to report with the intent to conceal, while Bean and Dale face charges of official oppression and injury to a child with intentional bodily injury.

Q: How has the school district responded? A: A school board meeting was scheduled to consider a “separation agreement” with the superintendent, and the district is likely to face further investigation and scrutiny.