Houston teacher investigated after allegedly body slamming special needs student

HOUSTON -- Jermiah Smith can't see out of his left eye as he points out the area that hurts the most. The Conley Elementary School third grader tells his story of what happened Wednesday with his Special Ed teacher. He says he got into trouble for being in the wrong chair. He also says after that the teacher body slammed him onto the floor, injuring his eye.

Smith said, "I was crying and she told me to sit in the blue chair. When she saw my eye she went to go get the principal."



The grandmother of the nine-year-old says she has a lot of questions she wants answered. "What made you push him to the floor? That's what I want to know," said Vickie Calliham.
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Smith has ADHA and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) and his grandmother says he does have to be restrained at times but there is a way to do it.

Calliham said, "You put their arms to the side and hold them until they calm down. That's what you are supposed to do when they get out of hand and they will calm down. She should know that."



A spokesperson for Aldine ISD confirms they are investigating the case. The teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the situation.

Calliham said, "It wasn't handled properly. It wasn't handled properly at all."

The grandmother says there should be consequences, adding, "For one, she needs to lose her job because you're not capable of dealing with kids, Special Ed kids anyway."

The family says the boy is on concussion watch and won't be able to return to school until next week at the earliest.