Teacher shot at Newport News elementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We have students like this at my school every few years. Usually the parent is/was an addict and the child is living in chaos. Sometimes it is a very permissive parent who lets their kids do whatever they want. I’ve had years where it took months to get a kid tested for an IEP. I can’t just request a meeting and have it happen. I have to document months of behaviors before anything happens. Now, if the parent requests the meeting, it will occur within 30 days.

As for someone who mentioned that an aid should’ve stayed with this child on a day the parent didn’t come to school, you obviously don’t understand the staffing shortages in public schools. On any given day, we have between 5-18 staff members out of the building (sick, personal day, jury duty, etc). Every day our admin scrambles to find people to cover for classroom teachers. There is nobody to cover for a parent as a one-on-one.

I’m the pP and I’m very aware of the shortages. (And I assume that’s why they used the parent as the shadow for so long.). But this seems like such an extreme case they never should have stopped the parent shadow unless they had some warm body to use as a transition. Maybe it should have been the AP who has now resigned. At our school the AP does fill in for things like this.

Now it seems like it’s really an extreme case. But before he shot the teacher, it’s not clear that is was. I mean I know he was a tough kid. But now sure it was worse than other really tough cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does "acute disability" mean? How unusual is it for a parent to attend classes with the child as part of an IEP?

It probably means no one knows what the child’s disability is yet. I have a 6 year old who has been diagnosed with probably 8 different things by a variety of specialists over time. It’s very hard to tell what kids have when they are so young. It will become clear when he gets older what he has, but they know now that it’s severe and disrupts his ability to think and function in a classroom.

Or maybe they know and don't want to disclose it to the world.

The teacher is entitled to a trial in front of a jury. If she wants it to come out, it will come out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We have students like this at my school every few years. Usually the parent is/was an addict and the child is living in chaos. Sometimes it is a very permissive parent who lets their kids do whatever they want. I’ve had years where it took months to get a kid tested for an IEP. I can’t just request a meeting and have it happen. I have to document months of behaviors before anything happens. Now, if the parent requests the meeting, it will occur within 30 days.

As for someone who mentioned that an aid should’ve stayed with this child on a day the parent didn’t come to school, you obviously don’t understand the staffing shortages in public schools. On any given day, we have between 5-18 staff members out of the building (sick, personal day, jury duty, etc). Every day our admin scrambles to find people to cover for classroom teachers. There is nobody to cover for a parent as a one-on-one.

I’m the pP and I’m very aware of the shortages. (And I assume that’s why they used the parent as the shadow for so long.). But this seems like such an extreme case they never should have stopped the parent shadow unless they had some warm body to use as a transition. Maybe it should have been the AP who has now resigned. At our school the AP does fill in for things like this.

Now it seems like it’s really an extreme case. But before he shot the teacher, it’s not clear that is was. I mean I know he was a tough kid. But now sure it was worse than other really tough cases.

Other articles have said he was suspended last year for choking his kindergarten teacher. He has just gotten back from a 1 day suspension when this happened for cussing and threatening his peers. He was running around the playground with his belt threatening to beat kids and had broken his teacher’s phone. He was definitely a known severe issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We have students like this at my school every few years. Usually the parent is/was an addict and the child is living in chaos. Sometimes it is a very permissive parent who lets their kids do whatever they want. I’ve had years where it took months to get a kid tested for an IEP. I can’t just request a meeting and have it happen. I have to document months of behaviors before anything happens. Now, if the parent requests the meeting, it will occur within 30 days.

As for someone who mentioned that an aid should’ve stayed with this child on a day the parent didn’t come to school, you obviously don’t understand the staffing shortages in public schools. On any given day, we have between 5-18 staff members out of the building (sick, personal day, jury duty, etc). Every day our admin scrambles to find people to cover for classroom teachers. There is nobody to cover for a parent as a one-on-one.

I’m the pP and I’m very aware of the shortages. (And I assume that’s why they used the parent as the shadow for so long.). But this seems like such an extreme case they never should have stopped the parent shadow unless they had some warm body to use as a transition. Maybe it should have been the AP who has now resigned. At our school the AP does fill in for things like this.

Now it seems like it’s really an extreme case. But before he shot the teacher, it’s not clear that is was. I mean I know he was a tough kid. But now sure it was worse than other really tough cases.

Other articles have said he was suspended last year for choking his kindergarten teacher. He has just gotten back from a 1 day suspension when this happened for cussing and threatening his peers. He was running around the playground with his belt threatening to beat kids and had broken his teacher’s phone. He was definitely a known severe issue.

+1 If that kind of behavior is tolerated at any school without providing serious supportive resources, then there is a problematic administrative team at that school and/or school system,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We have students like this at my school every few years. Usually the parent is/was an addict and the child is living in chaos. Sometimes it is a very permissive parent who lets their kids do whatever they want. I’ve had years where it took months to get a kid tested for an IEP. I can’t just request a meeting and have it happen. I have to document months of behaviors before anything happens. Now, if the parent requests the meeting, it will occur within 30 days.

As for someone who mentioned that an aid should’ve stayed with this child on a day the parent didn’t come to school, you obviously don’t understand the staffing shortages in public schools. On any given day, we have between 5-18 staff members out of the building (sick, personal day, jury duty, etc). Every day our admin scrambles to find people to cover for classroom teachers. There is nobody to cover for a parent as a one-on-one.

I’m the pP and I’m very aware of the shortages. (And I assume that’s why they used the parent as the shadow for so long.). But this seems like such an extreme case they never should have stopped the parent shadow unless they had some warm body to use as a transition. Maybe it should have been the AP who has now resigned. At our school the AP does fill in for things like this.

Now it seems like it’s really an extreme case. But before he shot the teacher, it’s not clear that is was. I mean I know he was a tough kid. But now sure it was worse than other really tough cases.

Other articles have said he was suspended last year for choking his kindergarten teacher. He has just gotten back from a 1 day suspension when this happened for cussing and threatening his peers. He was running around the playground with his belt threatening to beat kids and had broken his teacher’s phone. He was definitely a known severe issue.

+1 If that kind of behavior is tolerated at any school without providing serious supportive resources, then there is a problematic administrative team at that school and/or school system,

The school never properly set up a threat assessment for this kid or any other kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We have students like this at my school every few years. Usually the parent is/was an addict and the child is living in chaos. Sometimes it is a very permissive parent who lets their kids do whatever they want. I’ve had years where it took months to get a kid tested for an IEP. I can’t just request a meeting and have it happen. I have to document months of behaviors before anything happens. Now, if the parent requests the meeting, it will occur within 30 days.

As for someone who mentioned that an aid should’ve stayed with this child on a day the parent didn’t come to school, you obviously don’t understand the staffing shortages in public schools. On any given day, we have between 5-18 staff members out of the building (sick, personal day, jury duty, etc). Every day our admin scrambles to find people to cover for classroom teachers. There is nobody to cover for a parent as a one-on-one.

I’m the pP and I’m very aware of the shortages. (And I assume that’s why they used the parent as the shadow for so long.). But this seems like such an extreme case they never should have stopped the parent shadow unless they had some warm body to use as a transition. Maybe it should have been the AP who has now resigned. At our school the AP does fill in for things like this.

Now it seems like it’s really an extreme case. But before he shot the teacher, it’s not clear that is was. I mean I know he was a tough kid. But now sure it was worse than other really tough cases.

Other articles have said he was suspended last year for choking his kindergarten teacher. He has just gotten back from a 1 day suspension when this happened for cussing and threatening his peers. He was running around the playground with his belt threatening to beat kids and had broken his teacher’s phone. He was definitely a known severe issue.

+1 If that kind of behavior is tolerated at any school without providing serious supportive resources, then there is a problematic administrative team at that school and/or school system,

The school never properly set up a threat assessment for this kid or any other kid.

Interesting (and very sad to hear) Mother Jones article -- thanks!

[Anonymous]

They have now identified the administrator who ignored multiple teachers' concerns and pleas to look for a gun. Such a needless traumatic event for all to experience and witness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We have students like this at my school every few years. Usually the parent is/was an addict and the child is living in chaos. Sometimes it is a very permissive parent who lets their kids do whatever they want. I’ve had years where it took months to get a kid tested for an IEP. I can’t just request a meeting and have it happen. I have to document months of behaviors before anything happens. Now, if the parent requests the meeting, it will occur within 30 days.

As for someone who mentioned that an aid should’ve stayed with this child on a day the parent didn’t come to school, you obviously don’t understand the staffing shortages in public schools. On any given day, we have between 5-18 staff members out of the building (sick, personal day, jury duty, etc). Every day our admin scrambles to find people to cover for classroom teachers. There is nobody to cover for a parent as a one-on-one.

I’m the pP and I’m very aware of the shortages. (And I assume that’s why they used the parent as the shadow for so long.). But this seems like such an extreme case they never should have stopped the parent shadow unless they had some warm body to use as a transition. Maybe it should have been the AP who has now resigned. At our school the AP does fill in for things like this.

Now it seems like it’s really an extreme case. But before he shot the teacher, it’s not clear that is was. I mean I know he was a tough kid. But now sure it was worse than other really tough cases.

Reportedly, he choked a teacher until she couldn't breathe during his kindergarten year.

[Anonymous]

WTOP reported the kid assaulted people several times prior

[Anonymous]

Holy crap. The admins at this school are so screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy crap. The admins at this school are so screwed.

Educators with the title of doctorate and positions in administration need to demonstrate leadership amd make responsible decisions to support their students and staff. These clearly did not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTOP reported the kid assaulted people several times prior

he had broken the teacher's phone earlier in the week, had been on a one day suspension, and the next day after the suspension was the day he brought the gun. All that, in one week. And neither of his parents went to school with him that day? HFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does "acute disability" mean? How unusual is it for a parent to attend classes with the child as part of an IEP?

It probably means no one knows what the child’s disability is yet. I have a 6 year old who has been diagnosed with probably 8 different things by a variety of specialists over time. It’s very hard to tell what kids have when they are so young. It will become clear when he gets older what he has, but they know now that it’s severe and disrupts his ability to think and function in a classroom.

Or maybe they know and don't want to disclose it to the world.

The teacher is entitled to a trial in front of a jury. If she wants it to come out, it will come out

What crime is the teacher being tried for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it a “deal” or is this a legitimate way how schools are dealing with “troubled” kids (whatever the reason)?

Some parents with kids who were in the same classroom are obviously upset and terrified, but I haven’t heard anyone mention how utterly disruptive and inappropriate it is to have parents of one child in your child’s classroom every single day all day. I can’t even believe this is allowed.
100% this child needed to be out of the general classroom, and quickly.

It was 100% a deal of some kind because admin could have referred him for evaluation and changed his placement . Parents do not have to consent to that. But admin didn’t. They also didn’t heed multiple warnings THAT DAY from teachers and kids despite him being a known threat from past incidents. The fact parents were allowed to be the daily support person and attend with him alone is highly unusual and a huge red flag. For reasons that will only later come out, admin allowed him to remain in a Gen Ed class with parent attending (except when they didn’t) when he was a known physically violent student who also made consistent verbal threats to students. It’s a stunning display of absolute negligence but there is no way with the wording of their initial statement that the child has an actual IEP with an IDEA-categorized disability. Admin and parents were working together to keep him out of sped and in Gen Ed.

This. And maybe there is no clean diagnosis for this child. Some people are born with a predatory drive to harm, and when such people are born to parents who care more about their own self-perceptions than the safety of others, in other words parents like these with zero — zero— real integrity, you get this kind of powder keg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does "acute disability" mean? How unusual is it for a parent to attend classes with the child as part of an IEP?

It probably means no one knows what the child’s disability is yet. I have a 6 year old who has been diagnosed with probably 8 different things by a variety of specialists over time. It’s very hard to tell what kids have when they are so young. It will become clear when he gets older what he has, but they know now that it’s severe and disrupts his ability to think and function in a classroom.

Or maybe they know and don't want to disclose it to the world.

The teacher is entitled to a trial in front of a jury. If she wants it to come out, it will come out

What crime is the teacher being tried for?

You are entitled to a jury for civil cases. She is suing