Two teaching assistants have been dismissed after one is accused of striking a 10-year-old student in the face and the other allegedly putting a 5-year-old boy in a chokehold.
Elizabeth Kay Sutton and Otoria McClung faced charges of assault and battery involving a student following the troubling incidents at Elgin Elementary School. On January 8, police were called to the school after headteacher Gabe Winn reported that Sutton, 38, had forcibly pushed a 10-year-old student back into his seat before hitting him in the face.
CCTV footage reportedly captured Sutton making a motion towards the boy’s face, causing him to turn away. Upon returning from lunch, the boy’s teacher noticed a red mark on his face. Sutton explained that the child had been challenging since returning from a break and claimed she used a technique she had been taught as a paraprofessional, stating she did not intend to harm him. Despite pleading not guilty, Sutton, who had only been a teaching assistant for five months, was subsequently terminated.
In a separate incident, McClung, 37, was seen allegedly carrying a 5-year-old boy in a chokehold down a hallway months after Sutton’s arrest. Witnesses reported that the boy’s face was red, and he was crying and hitting McClung’s arm as she expressed her difficulties in managing the situation. McClung was arrested on March 13, with Superintendent Nate Meraz stating that proper authorities were immediately informed.
Both incidents were brought to administration’s attention by colleagues, emphasizing the culture of accountability within the school. Meraz emphasized the school’s commitment to student safety and well-being, noting that employees undergo thorough background checks and reference checks before employment.
Sutton and McClung are scheduled to appear in court on May 20.
