Texas Substitute Teacher Accused of Hitting Young Student
A substitute teacher at a Texas elementary school has come under fire for allegedly slapping a 4-year-old girl twice in the face during class. The girl’s mother, Marissa Broughton, expressed her outrage over the incident that reportedly took place at Smith Elementary School last Tuesday.
“I messed with the wrong mom, that’s for sure,” Broughton told a news outlet. She made it clear that she wouldn’t rest until the situation is completely addressed.
“No child should ever have to go through something like this, especially my baby girl,” she added, speaking about the emotional impact on her daughter.
The Spring Independent School District is currently investigating the claims, as mentioned in reports. This district is situated a little over 30 minutes north of Houston.
Broughton described how her daughter was distressed and crying when she picked her up that day. “I got down to her level and asked, ‘What’s wrong?'” she recounted. Her daughter allegedly told her, “The teacher hit me.” Broughton pressed further, asking if the teacher she referred to was a substitute, to which her daughter affirmed, saying he hit her twice. Broughton also mentioned her daughter heard noises in her neck during the encounter.
After receiving the account from her daughter, Broughton reported the incident to the vice principal, who assured her that it would be probed the following day. Out of concern, Broughton has also filed a police report regarding the incident.
She voiced her frustration, questioning the delay in interviewing other students. “Why haven’t we talked to these kids yet? They’re just 4 years old, and details might slip away over the weekend,” she remarked.
The school district issued a statement saying that they learned about the allegations that evening and took immediate steps to begin an investigation. The substitute teacher has been removed from the classroom while the inquiry is ongoing.
“The safety and health of our students is our top priority,” the statement mentioned, but due to the ongoing investigation, they could not provide further details.
Chris Tritico, an attorney for the Spring ISD AFT union, stressed the importance of taking such allegations seriously. He explained that federal law restricts what information can be disclosed about the investigation process.
He acknowledged that while parents might feel anxious about the timeliness of proceedings, it doesn’t mean actions aren’t being taken. According to state law, school districts must take action and report findings to relevant state educational authorities within 24 hours of receiving an allegation.
Broughton, expressing her determination, said her daughter is traumatized and that she has chosen to withdraw her from school and educate her at home. The school district confirmed to police that the substitute teacher had been dismissed but also mentioned his potential reinstatement would hinge on the investigation’s conclusion.
Days after the incident, a letter was sent to parents outlining that the substitute teacher had used inappropriate force against students.
