Parents come to teacher's aid accused of physically abusing student

CHINO, Calif. - Parents and students showed up in large numbers to the Chino Valley Unified School District to show their support for a teacher at Butterfield Ranch Elementary school.

The female educator is accused of physically abusing a 6-year-old boy. Despite the serious allegation, parents say she is a good teacher who was dealing with a student with behavioral problems.

They blame the district for knowing about it and not providing assistance.

“I know she’s an amazing teacher. My 10-year-old wrote a speech and gave it to the school board that’s how much that teacher means to him,” parent Tricia Cauley said.

But the boy’s mother, Monique Alexander disagrees.

“My boy was thrown to the ground by his neck and he hit his head on a chair,” Alexander said. She adds that no adult should ever lay hands a child.

The incident allegedly happened on January 23, 2019. The teacher was arrested and released. She is facing a misdemeanor charge of willful cruelty of a child. 

CUSD confirms to FOX 11 that the original principal involved was reassigned in January and there is now a new school principal.

They have also released this statement:

"Effective January 31, 2020, Chino Valley Unified School District has retained an outside firm to investigate allegations involving personnel at Butterfield Ranch Elementary School. The safety of our students and staff remains a top priority and as needed, employees may be placed on administrative leave during the investigation. Butterfield Ranch Elementary School parents have been notified about any staff leaves that may affect their child(ren)’s classrooms, and the District has taken necessary steps to ensure that student learning continues by assigning qualified employees as temporary classroom replacement(s) until further notice. Because this is an active investigation, the District cannot provide further details and cannot discuss confidential personnel matters."

In addition to that case, 24 of 27 teachers are applying for a transfer out of Butterfield Ranch Elementary school. The teachers say they are not getting support from the principal and the district.