A substitute teacher in California was removed from the classroom after viewing “inappropriate images” in front of elementary school students. Officials said the shocking incident left several students in tears.
West Covina Unified School District Superintendent Emmy Flores said the alarming incident occurred just before noon Friday, just before a concerned parent called Cameron Elementary School to ask why her son had called crying.
When the school’s principal, Slivia Fullerton, checked on the boy, “several students were crying,” Flores said. said in a statement on Sunday.
A substitute teacher (whose name has not been released) was ordered to leave the classroom, and Mr. Fullerton attempted to reassure the traumatized children before eventually taking them to the on-site mental wellness room. did.
The children said the man was looking at “naked people” on his mobile phone, which was clearly displayed within the young students’ view, and parents were outraged. he told NBC4.
Parent Stacey Matthews claimed many students were huddled in the corner of the room because they felt uncomfortable.
“He wouldn’t let them go to the bathroom,” Matthews told the station.
After learning what happened, Flores immediately alerted district administrators, Child Protective Services, and local law enforcement to investigate the perverse allegations.
As of Wednesday, no arrests had been made in the case, but the West Covina Police Department said an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
“We would like to reassure the community that police treat these allegations with the utmost seriousness. We are currently investigating the situation thoroughly and gathering all necessary information. The investigation is ongoing,” Chief Richard Bell said. said in a statement.
Flores said the substitute teacher passed a rigorous background check without raising any red flags to district officials.
Dozens of parents protested outside the elementary school Tuesday, demanding law enforcement arrest the substitute teacher.
“When we found out on Saturday that he had not been arrested, [my daughter] “I was scared that he was going to come back and take them for tattering,” Matthews said.
West Covina is a suburban city located approximately 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
