Parents sue North Texas school district after teacher’s alleged abuse of 4-year-old, claiming they failed to report it
A North Texas teacher is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a kindergarten student.
The student’s parents filed a lawsuit against the Collin County School District, accusing them of failing to report the incident to police.
They shared a video with CBS News Texas that they say shows the violent attack on their 4-year-old son.
Gregory and Salam Thomas want the public to see the beaming smile of their 4-year-old son Aaron, who they say has been missing since he entered the Canup Early Childhood Center in Princeton.
“It changed him,” Gregory Thomas said. ‘He doesn’t like to sleep alone. He is afraid.’
The Thomases say they received a call from Princeton ISD in November informing them that their child had been locked out of school during recess.
“And then there was a video they wanted to show us,” Gregory Thomas said. “So we said ‘okay’.”
In the video, the parents say Linda Dueer, a 73-year-old kindergarten teacher, can be seen berating Aaron and then assaulting him.
“She grabbed him, threw him against the wall, said something to him and then punched him, almost causing him to fall,” Gregory Thomas said. ‘I could not believe it. I couldn’t believe she did that.’
Aaron’s parents expected the teacher to be arrested for assault.
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However, when they contacted the Princeton Police Department for news a few weeks later, they discovered that the police knew nothing about the incident.
“Even the lieutenant said, ‘I don’t understand why they haven’t contacted us,’” Gregory Thomas said.
Princeton police referred the case to a grand jury, which indicted Duerr on a third-degree felony charge of bodily harm to a child. She was arrested last week.
Aaron’s parents say she was still teaching months after the incident.
CBS News Texas asked Princeton ISD about the situation and received the following statement:
“Princeton ISD is aware of the incident and is working with the Princeton Police Department as officers investigate the matter. The teacher has been placed on administrative leave.”
The parents filed a civil suit against Princeton ISD, seeking damages for their child’s pain and suffering.
They also want the school district and others to take more responsibility when it comes to reporting crimes on campus.
“I’m really shocked,” said Salam Thomas. “I am shocked. I believe the United States must do more to protect its children.”
“It still breaks my heart to this day knowing I wasn’t there to protect my son,” Gregory Thomas said.
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