Pre-K teacher hit, slapped students while paraprofessional watched, GA cops say
A pre-kindergarten teacher at a Georgia elementary school is accused of physically abusing multiple students in front of her paraprofessional, authorities say.
The Claxton Elementary School teacher, 47-year-old Tanesha Herrington, now faces eight charges of cruelty to children following the investigation that began by the Claxton Police Department, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Authorities obtained security footage from Herrington’s classroom, which they say captured repeated abuse against her students during the current and previous school year.
“The footage depicts Herrington hitting two students repeatedly in the face, grabbing a student by the throat, forcefully lifting students by the arms while they were lying on the floor asleep, slapping a student on the arm and then pushing the student, and throwing a bookbag at a student who was seated on the ground,” investigators said.
Her 37-year-old paraprofessional, Courtney Anne Dutton, was inside the classroom, and police said she failed to report the abuse.
Dutton faces a charge of failure to report child abuse, according to the bureau.
“I just feel hurt because I’m sending my kids to school thinking that they are going to be protected, thinking that they’re getting loved and treated and cared for,” said Leona Berry, who told WDRW her twins attended the school and were shown being abused by Herrington.
In a statement to WJCL, the Evans County School District said both educators were placed on administrative leave.
“The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities,” interim superintendent Bradley Anderson told the station. “We are taking this matter very seriously and will continue to follow all laws, policies, and procedures as the investigation proceeds.”
Investigators said the investigation is ongoing, adding that there is a “substantial amount of video footage” to review.
Claxton is about a 200-mile drive southeast from Atlanta.