A substitute teacher at Lehman High School in Kyle, Texas, has been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly beating a 16-year-old student in her classroom.
Student cell phone video allegedly shows Tiffani Shadell Lankford, 32, punching the teen in the face and stomping on her head, reports The Oklahoman. The video was posted on Twitter. Another video taken by students appears to show that before Lankford attacked the teen, she held her down when the student swung at the teacher’s face, reports CBS DFW.
After the incident, the teen was taken to the local emergency room where she was treated and released to her father. Her family says she sustained severe injuries during the attack and is now experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The family also says the student was in special education classes.
Lankford was arrested after local law enforcement interviewed several witnesses and reviewed student videos of the incident. She has been fired.
Hays CISD says Lankford had received orientation training in late August and began working in the district September 13, reports The Oklahoman.
An attorney for the victim’s family said the incident began when the students in Lankford’s class were being loud, reports CBS Austin. As the event unfolded, the substitute teacher allegedly cursed at the students. The victim then told Lankford not to talk to her that way.
A statement released by the victim’s family claims Lankford has a “criminal history of domestic violence,” although, according to CBS Austin, the domestic violence case against her was civil, not criminal. A temporary protective order related to that case was filed against her five years ago but was dismissed two weeks later.
Both the victim’s family and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have called for an investigation into Hays CISD.
Lankford is currently out on bond.
