OH: Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Student With Special Needs

By Denise Yost
Managing Editor, nbc4i.com
Published: February 25, 2009
http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/teacher_accused_of_assaulting_student_with_special_needs/13226/

GROVE CITY, Ohio—A Central Ohio teacher is in hot water after police said she assaulted a child with special needs at school.

The alleged incident occurred on Feb. 2 at Grove City High School, where police allege 40-year-old teacher Robin Hartman assaulted one of her students, NBC 4‘s Tom Brockman reported.

Witness reports indicated the incident began when Hartman and a student who has Asperger’s Syndrome began exchanging words.

The report said that when the student refused to get up from his desk and go into the hall, the teacher allegedly lifted his chair and forced him to stand before pushing him into the hallway while yelling at him.

When the student allegedly made an obscene remark to the teacher, she allegedly responded by saying, ‘You don’t talk to me like that,‘ grabbed him by the back of his neck and led him to the kitchen area of the classroom.

Witnesses then reported hearing a “thug” noise and saw Hartman slam the door.

When NBC 4 went to her Worthington home for comment on the allegations, she refused comment and asked that we speak to her attorney.

School officials said Hartman has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is conducted.