A DeKalb County middle school teacher was placed on administrative leave Wednesday nearly two months after parents say he assaulted two students, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Parents told the DeKalb County School District about the alleged Dec. 7 assaults, but they said the teacher was only moved to a different classroom while the claims were investigated, according to the news station. Officials admitted to Channel 2 they placed the teacher on leave after being confronted by news media about the allegations.
“What we can say at this point is that the employee has been removed from the classroom pending further review and investigation,” a district spokesman told Channel 2 in a statement.
Parent Michelle Robinovitz told Channel 2 the teacher, who has not been named, intentionally tripped her daughter in Peachtree Charter Middle School’s cafeteria last month.
“He put out his foot, she tripped and dropped her lunch all over the place,” Robinovitz said. “(She) was with other kids who witnessed it, and (the teacher) laughed.”
Robinovitz said the teacher pushed another student out of a chair using a megaphone later that school day, Channel 2 reported.
“He was upset with (the student) for something, and pushed him out of the chair,” Robinovitz said. “(The teacher) held him down with the megaphone and yelled at him.”
The alleged incident has left Robinovitz’s daughter with anxiety.
"I mean, she was scared for days,” Robinovitz said. “She was crying for days.”
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