School staffer investigated for allegedly hitting children

The mother of a Henry County elementary school student is seeking criminal charges against a paraprofessional she alleges struck her child for not having her laptop charged.

Britney Walker says her daughter Nevaeh, 10, is one of five students alleging they were hit on their backs Wednesday by the staffer at Dutchtown Elementary School at the end of a class held in the school’s media center. Nevaeh said the employee struck them with her hand.

The students had not charged their Chromebooks, which allegedly angered the paraprofessional, Walker said her daughter told her. The paraprofessional allegedly struck each child as they left the room, Walker said.

“I don’t see anywhere that I can go and assault, abuse or hurt any children and go home,” Walker said, adding that the strike left a large welt on the fourth-grader’s back. “If that was anybody else or if it was me, we would be sitting in the Henry County Jail.”

Henry County Schools did not comment on the specifics of the allegations, but said in a statement that it is investigating the matter and has put the accused employee on administrative leave.

“Human Resources is currently investigating a personnel matter at Dutchtown Elementary School following a report of a staff member having inappropriate interactions with students,” the statement said.

The employee was not identified. The Henry County Police Department could not immediately be reached for comment. It was unclear if any of the other parents whose children were allegedly struck planned to press charges.