Collinsville Special Education Teacher Placed On Leave After Alleged Incident With Student

A Collinsville teacher is on leave after police say she was caught on camera dumping a special needs student out of a swing and onto the ground.

The school board met in a special meeting on Monday to determine what happens next for the teacher, where the superintendent recommended dismissing the teacher.

Instead of accepting her resignation, the board voted to hold a hearing for her where evidence could be presented and she could give her case.

News On 6 knows the community is aware of the teacher's name but we are not reporting it because she has not been dismissed from her job or charged with any crime.

The meeting was filled with parents who told News On 6 that they have special needs students in the district.

Collinsville Police say a school employee made a report to a school resource officer that the teacher was being rough with a special needs student in October.

Police say video from inside the school shows the teacher grabbing a swing and dumping a 4-year-old special needs child out, causing the child to fall out face first.

Police say the child was not hurt and the school is cooperating with the investigation. The superintendent says he cannot comment because this is an ongoing personnel issue.

The district said the teacher has been a special education teacher for nearly 30 years, and in Collinsville for 16.

News On 6 called the teacher to get her side of the story. She denied doing anything wrong and said she had no other comment.

The school has scheduled the hearing to take place during the Jan. 13th school board meeting.