WASHINGTON (7News) — A D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) teacher aide has pleaded guilty after admitting in court that she used hot sauce to discipline a non-verbal student.
7News has reported on corporal punishment allegations within DCPS since the fall. At Boone Elementary School, a staffer was accused of body slamming a student over a book, and there was another incident reported at Wheatley Education Campus where a staffer allegedly force-fed a child.
READ | Corporal punishment allegations under investigation at Boone Elementary School in DC
In court Monday, an attorney called this latest incident at Nalle Elementary School “unusual.”
30-year-old Nalle Elementary School teacher’s aide Imani Davis said she put hot sauce inside the child’s mouth because he “deserved it.” The student’s mom, Shanice Griggs, told 7News he has autism and is non-verbal.
Griggs said her son never had a voice in this situation, and everyone meant to speak up and protect him, but didn’t. She also told us the the school didn’t notify her about the incident until the end of the day.
“How could the school let this happen? Like under your watch? And then you let me know at the end of the day, and brought him home on a bus. Why didn’t you let me know right then and there? I’m holding them accountable as well as Ms. Davis,” Griggs said. “I’m holding her accountable as well, because you shouldn’t be walking around here thinking that it’s okay to do that to disabled kids, especially kids with a low voice. He’s nonverbal. He can’t tell me. And then I’m his voice. I cry because my son is my everything, and I want justice for him.”
SEE ALSO | MPD investigates corporal punishment allegations at Wheatley Education Campus
Davis pleaded guilty to simple assault in the case. She was given community service as part of a plea deal.
“My son loved school. And for him not to just not want to be there, it’s just very much it hurts because I want a place where my son is safe. And that was one of the places I thought he felt safe, and it just doesn’t feel safe there,” Griggs said. “I don’t want her to ever work with students again. Do background checks, thorough background checks, hold her accountable for her actions.”
At the time of the incident, the Nalle school principal notified families that Davis was out on leave. However, 7News reached out to DCPS after she pleaded guilty, and the district would not say if Davis was let go from the district or if she is still allowed to work at D.C. schools. It said it has to protect personnel matters.
PRIOR COVERAGE | DC school employee accused of putting finger with hot sauce in student’s mouth
Griggs said the district should have protected her son.
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