Photo: Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office

Teacher accused of hitting special needs student during classroom incident

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah — A teacher from Midway Elementary is under investigation following allegations of child abuse involving a first-grade special needs student. The incident, reported on April 1, 2024, by the school’s principal, involves claims that the teacher struck a student during class on March 28.

According to the affidavit from the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, the student reported to a teacher’s aide that the teacher had “smacked” him twice above his right eyebrow while he was working on sight words. The school nurse documented the injury, noting a red, swollen mark on his eyebrow. Both the nurse and the student’s mother provided photographs to support the claim.

In an interview with a forensic specialist, the student reiterated that he was hit because he “wasn’t being good enough” for the teacher. A teacher’s aide noted seeing a red mark on the student’s forehead after the alleged incident. Another staff member shared concerns about the teacher’s aggressive behavior, saying she had seen her “yank, move, and yell at students.”