Mother claims Poway Unified teacher abused her autistic child

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Kathie says her six-year-old son, named Connor, was a happy boy who loved dancing and singing, but she says he started throwing tantrums and getting angry at her at the start of the school year last fall.

“The first month we brought him home was devastating,” Kathie said. “He was just a shell of himself.”

Connor is autistic and non-verbal. He was enrolled in a special education class at Creekside Elementary School. Kathie says that in January, the school principal called her to tell her about an investigation into Connor’s teacher.

“Getting that phone call, it was just, you feel like all the pieces are coming together, and you’re like, it all makes sense.”

Kathie is now suing the Poway Unified School District. She filed a complaint, claiming her son was physically and emotionally abused by his teacher. We are not naming the teacher because he has not been charged. The complaint alleges that Connor’s teacher hit him, slammed him against the wall, dragged him across the classroom and sometimes isolated him in a corner. He also claims that the teacher has already been convicted of child abuse. I asked the district about its selection of new hires. A representative responded by saying that applicants must complete a fingerprint check of state and federal criminal records.

“It wasn’t right, it’s not fair to Connor, it’s not fair to his classmates,” Kathie said. “The other kids shouldn’t have had to witness this.”

The complaint alleges that Creekside administration was aware of this teacher’s behavior and took no action until late January. San Diego police say their child abuse unit investigated the case and then referred it to the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. Kathie moved her son to a new school, but says he’s still struggling to get back to normal.

“It’s heartbreaking, when he has his tantrums and his moments where he can’t tell me how he feels. It’s heartbreaking to see him so upset.

The Poway Unified School District says the administration began investigating the teacher immediately after staff raised concerns and placed him on administrative leave. He then resigned in February.

Here is their full statement:

“(The teacher) was hired as an education specialist by the Poway Unified School District in August 2023 and submitted his resignation in February 2024. He has not been employed or affiliated with our school district since Towards the end of his brief tenure, concerns were raised by staff regarding his interactions with a student. When the administration became aware of these concerns, an immediate investigation was launched and the employee was fired. on administrative leave. Local judicial authorities also opened an investigation (the teacher) submitted his resignation.

Regarding background checks, California public school employees must be fingerprinted and a criminal background clearance must be received by the school district and county office that employs them before new employees submit background checks. paid services. New hire applicants are directed to the San Diego County Office of Education Fingerprinting Services and Live Scan Fingerprinting Services. Live Scan fingerprint checks include state (DOJ) and federal (FBI) criminal background checks.