A preschool assistant in Tennessee was arrested after she allegedly assaulted a nonverbal student.
Detectives opened an investigation in April after Christina Burk was accused of assaulting a nonverbal child while she worked at Austin Peay Elementary. A complaint about the incident was filed with the School Resource Officer by school officials and witnesses, which was when authorities learned about the case, according to WREG.
Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley said that detectives consulted with the district attorney’s office on the findings of the investigation and they ultimately pressed formal charges.
Burk, 43, was then arrested and was charged with assault. She has since been released after she bonded out on $5,000.
A teacher aide in Texas has been arrested after she allegedly told a preschool student she was “ugly as hell” before she grabbed her by the feet and swung her around upside down. The alleged incident took place at Marshall Early Childhood Center in Marshall, Texas, when Rachel Ann Kirspel was reportedly seen insulting the […]
She is next scheduled to appear in court regarding the charge on Thursday, June 17.
Beasley said that the school officials “took immediate, appropriate actions against the assistant” and “therefore, no further threat existed.”
“Our children, especially those who are vulnerable, deserve our protection, and we have a duty to thoroughly investigate and hold individuals accountable and we owe it to the family to ensure the case is investigated properly. We have worked closely with the family of the child, school officials and the District Attorney’s Office throughout this investigation,” Beasley added.
Beasley added that he wanted to “stress that these unfortunate incidents do not reflect the many dedicated teachers, support staff and administrators who serve our students every day with professionalism and compassion.”
Authorities in Texas have arrested three former elementary school staffers for both restraining and injuring a student with special needs, according to reports. Teacher Jessica Longo as well as paraprofessionals Julia Cantu and Veronica Guerra-Ulrich were arrested on Monday, December 29, for alleged misconduct that occurred while all three were still employed at Watts Elementary […]
“We support our educators and appreciate the job they do however, we work for the victims of crime and in cases such as this, where a child is involved, we work for and with the parents as well,” he said.
It is not currently clear if Burk has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Tipton County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment when asked for an update in the case.
Authorities have asked that anyone with information about the case call the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-3300 or Central Dispatch after hours at 901-475-4300. Additionally, people can submit tips by calling 901-475-3307.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
Burk was arrested one month after Katherine Elise Turnbow was also charged with assault on a nonverbal student in May. Turnbow, 23, also worked at Austin Peay Elementary as a kindergarten teacher.
It is not currently clear if Turnbow has entered a plea or retained legal counsel.
“This is a very unfortunate situation involving a faculty member. However, any actions involving the mistreatment or assault of a child—and in this case, a vulnerable child—simply cannot and will not be tolerated,” Beasley said at the time of Turnbow’s arrest, per Action News 5. “Our office takes allegations involving the safety of our children seriously, and they will be investigated thoroughly. At the same time, this incident should not reflect negatively on the many dedicated, hardworking, and caring teachers and staff within the Tipton County school system.”
