A 15-year-old girl who threw a chair at her teacher in a now-viral video has been arrested and is now being charged with two counts of felony assault as a result of the incident, which took place at Southwestern Academy in Flint, Michigan, on Thursday.
In the video, two students can be seen arguing when one picks up a chair and throws it, striking the teacher in the back of the head and causing her to instantly fall to the floor. Video of the incident ends shortly after, but the teacher was reportedly knocked unconscious.
Terence Green, the police chief in Flint, told ABC 12 that the school resource officer arrived to break up the fight between the students and found the teacher lying on the ground. Both students were arrested in the aftermath, and prosecutor David Leyton decided to press felony charges against the girl who threw the chair.
The teacher, meanwhile, was taken to the hospital and was reportedly released by Friday evening. She is doing well and plans to return to work, according to the Flint Community School.
“I am relieved to report that the teacher involved in this incident is doing well and was released from the hospital the same day,” Superintendent Kevelin Jones said in a statement.
“The resilience and dedication displayed by this educator are truly commendable. Furthermore, I am heartened to inform you that the teacher has chosen to return to work. This decision reflects the profound commitment our educators have to their mission of educating and supporting our scholars,” he added.
“On the day of the teacher’s return, scholars and staff will be present to extend their warm welcome. They consider this teacher a hero, and we share in their sentiment. It is through the unity and resilience of our community that we can move forward, stronger and more determined to create a safe and supportive environment for all,” he concluded.
Jones later released another statement, clarifying that the students involved would be “held accountable according to the law and in accordance with the Flint Community Schools Student Code of Conduct,” adding that the school is “committed to providing the necessary support and resources” to help “scholars and staff” “cope with any emotional or psychological effects stemming from this incident.”
Public School Review ranked Southwestern Classical Academy in the bottom 50% in school performance, having a graduation rate between 65-69%. The report from the outlet notes that less than 20% of students achieve proficiency in math and reading.
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