Report: 2 workers saw educator hit student

Fired Atlanta autism teacher accused of punching student.

An Atlanta autism teacher fired by a unanimous school board vote had allegedly punched a student as many as three times.

The Atlanta Board of Education terminated the employment of Angela Christian-Vaughn, 58, last week after it voted to accept a hearing tribunal’s recommendation.

The former Ralph J. Bunche Middle School special education teacher had been reassigned from her regular duties but still on the payroll after the Oct. 19 incident, after which she was booked on a misdemeanor charge of battery/substantial physical harm and later released on bond.

A paraprofessional at the school witnessed the teacher punch a student three times, according to the tribunal’s report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through a public-records request.

A second paraprofessional said he saw her punch the student twice, and Christian-Vaughn “admitted that her hand came into contact” with the student’s face, the report stated.

The incident was captured on security video.

The student suffered minor face lacerations, according to an Atlanta Public Schools police report.

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen recommended Christian-Vaughn be fired.

Attorney Ted Frankel, who represented her at the hearing tribunal, did not provide comment.

The criminal case is under review and pending formal charges, according to the Office of the Fulton County Solicitor.