News Summary
A Pflugerville ISD kindergarten teacher faces felony charges for allegedly fracturing a 5-year-old student’s fingers. The incident involved a student with autism who reported mistreatment. The teacher was placed on leave, and concerns were raised about the school’s response and communication protocols.
Pflugerville Teacher Charged with Felony After Alleged Misconduct
A Pflugerville ISD kindergarten teacher, McKinzie Merrell, faces felony charges after allegedly fracturing a 5-year-old student’s fingers. The alleged incident occurred on September 4, 2023, at Pflugerville Elementary School. The student, Noah Moore, who has autism, returned home in discomfort and later informed his parents about the event, claiming that his teacher had caused his injuries.
Noah’s father noted that the child described the incident by saying that the teacher “broke my hand” and “bent my hand back.” Notably, the school did not inform Noah’s parents of the incident when it initially occurred, leading to concerns regarding the communication protocols in place for similar situations.
Following the incident, Noah was taken to St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, where medical evaluations confirmed that he had suffered fractures in his right pinky and ring fingers. The Pflugerville ISD police initiated an investigation after the Moore family reported Noah’s injuries.
Details Surrounding the Incident
Authorities reviewed surveillance footage that captured interactions between Merrell and Noah throughout the school day. Merrell asserted that Noah had kicked her, prompting her to bend back his fingers in what she claimed was self-defense. However, an investigation revealed that teacher reports showed no documented instances of misbehavior by Noah during the school day.
The investigation also uncovered that Noah had reported his pain to another teacher; however, immediate action was not taken to assist him, raising further concerns about the school’s response to students’ well-being.
Status of the Teacher and Ongoing Investigations
In light of the incident, Merrell was placed on immediate leave and is currently no longer employed by the Pflugerville Independent School District. She has been charged with injury to a child with a disability causing serious bodily injury, which is classified as a first-degree felony. At the time of the incident, it is noted that Merrell was not fully certified as a teacher but was in the process of obtaining her certification.
Pflugerville ISD has sent a letter to parents regarding the situation, reaffirming its commitment to student safety and assuring parents that such incidents will be addressed seriously. The case has also been reported to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which is likely to carry out its own review of the situation.
Impact on the Moore Family
As a result of the distressing event, the Moore family has made the decision to transfer Noah to a different school due to his emotional trauma and anxiety about returning to his previous institution. The family expressed feelings of being let down by the school system and is currently navigating the repercussions of the incident on their child’s mental health.
The ongoing investigations aim to thoroughly evaluate the circumstances surrounding the incident and formulate necessary actions to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Stakeholders within the community are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds, underscoring the imperative to prioritize student safety and support for children with special needs.
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Additional Resources
- KVUE: Kindergarten Teacher Arrested
- Fox 7 Austin: Pflugerville ISD Teacher Arrested
- CBS Austin: Teacher Accused of Fracturing Autistic Student’s Fingers
- KXAN: Pflugerville Police Investigating Shooting
- Wikipedia: Pflugerville, Texas
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