DeKalb assistant principal removed after excessive force allegations

A DeKalb County mother says an assistant principal used excessive force during a fight between students, according to Channel 2 Action News.

The mom told the television station the assistant principal picked up her daughter and slammed her down on the lunchroom floor.

DeKalb County Schools said the assistant principal has been removed from the school as its investigation unfolds.

Jada McClenton-Russell, an eighth grader at Redan Middle School in Lithonia, has been suspended for fighting, according to Channel 2.

“I wanted her to leave me alone,” Jada told Channel 2.

Jada said a classmate has been picking on her since Day 1, which was three weeks ago.

The family just moved to DeKalb County from Michigan.

“(She) called me every day about this girl messing with (her),” Jada’s mom, Janae McClenton, said to Channel 2.

Jada says she got to the breaking point on Friday and started fighting the girl. That’s when the assistant principal tried to break it up.

Her mother showed Channel 2 cellphone video of the fight that she got off Facebook.

“He picks her up (off the lunchroom table) and swings her on the ground,” McClenton said. “That was just too much. That was too much.”

Jada said it hurt her back.

“It’s like he did more damage to her than her and the little girl did fighting each other,” McClenton said.

Jada told the station if she could go back, she would have ignored the taunting and stayed focused on school.

McClenton says her daughter deserved to be suspended but not manhandled.

“It was too much for a grown up to do to a child,” she said.

The school district sent a statement to Channel 2 that reads, in part: “The District is actively investigating the incident at Redan Middle School. The Assistant Principal in the video has been removed pending completion of the investigation.”