Georgia special education teacher jailed on child cruelty charges

A special education teacher in the Polk County school system has been jailed without bond after she physically hurt two students, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Deborah Alexander Alford is charged with four counts of first-degree cruelty to children (maliciously causing excessive pain), one count of cruelty to children, and battery, according to Polk County jail records.

Alford, who has an Alabama address, was taken into custody Thursday after Cedartown police took out warrants, the Northwest Georgia News reported.

She is a teacher at Westside Elementary in Cedartown and is on administrative leave, Channel 2 reported.

Polk school district officials contacted the school resource officer at Westside about the alleged abuse, Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said.

There is video of Alford’s alleged actions from at least two cameras at the school, Newsome told Channel 2.

“The video was disturbing to me to the extent that I agree with my officer as to his findings,” Newsome said.

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