HOUSTON – A former charter schoolteacher was arrested and charged after one of her students says she punched him in the face so hard he suffered cuts and bruises.
The alleged incident happened last year, but the family says they’re still not convinced Bloom Academy Charter School, where this happened, is doing anything to prevent future incidents like this.
The family says part of the reason this happened is because the school failed to honor his Autism diagnosis. The lingering effects of what happened have them elevating their concerns to the state and federal levels.
“We send them there to be protected, to learn, thinking it’s a safe space and it really never was a safe space for him,” said Lashay Bell Gray, about her then 6-year-old son, Jaevion.
They say his teacher at the time, 24-year-old Malina Sutton, punched him in the face.
“Shocked to hear something like that for one, and then to see him and to actually see the bruising and cuts on his face, that was very alarming,” Gray said.
She says her son—who was diagnosed with Autism—should’ve been in a special needs program but was placed in general education with a teacher who wasn’t trained to deal with his behavior.
“It was all because his work wasn’t neat enough to him, he wanted it perfect and kept erasing his paper, and she was ready to move on,” Gray said.
She says Jaevion now suffers from PTSD, even though he’s transferred schools.
“Jaevion will never forget that moment. If you ask him what happened, he could tell you word-for-word. His story has not changed,” she added.
Sutton was fired almost immediately and charged with felony injury to a child. She’s now out on bond, and while the family says they’re looking forward to her trial set to start in June, they’re sounding the alarm now, concerned for other kids at Bloom Academy Charter School who may be misdiagnosed by the school.
“They did not properly diagnose him and give him the services that he needed. Had they done that, he would’ve had an IEP to support his behaviors in the classroom,” said family advocate, Shukura Davis.
“We are going to stand in the gap for this family, we are going to stand in the gap for these kids, but I want you to understand I’m going to come for your job. I’m going to come for whatever I have to come for if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do for our kids,” said activist, Candice Matthews who is also advocating for the family.
The family says the DA’s office told them if convicted, Sutton faces up to 5 years on probation. They added they are filing discrimination complaints with the TEA, DOE and DOJ.
We called Bloom Academy Charter. Someone answered the phone, when we started asking questions, a woman said no comment, then hung up the phone.