Texas teacher seen kicking 16-year-old special needs students and stomping on her neck in horrifying video
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
A substitute teacher from Texas has been arrested after a video of her violently beating and kicking a 16-year-old special needs student surfaced.
Tiffani Shadell Lankford, 32, who worked as a substitute at Lehman High School, was identified as the woman in the video. She was charged with aggravated assault after the incident and reportedly had a prior domestic violence incident from 2014 in Baltimore.
The harrowing video shows Lankford hitting the student at least thrice before proceeding to drag and throw her on the floor. The teacher then appears to kick the student behind the neck. Other students look absolutely shocked at the incident and the teacher screams before walking away.
Lankford has been fired and the student has been taken to the hospital where she is recovering.
The girl's family said in a statement that they were shocked and disgusted by the incident. The family is appalled by the "abuse" and "excessive force used in this teacher's attempt to discipline a special needs child", said attorney Paul Batrice on behalf of the student's family.
"There is no excuse for this type of behavior. Given this teacher’s alleged criminal history of domestic violence and the video footage that has shaken our community, we have started an investigation into this teacher and Hays CISD in the hopes of ensuring justice for this family and so that no Texas student ever endures such extreme behavior again," the statement said, according to KVUE.
Lankford is said to have been oriented on August 30 this year and started her job with the district on September 13. “We are appalled at the actions of this former employee,” said Tim Savoy, chief communication officer for Hays CISD. “There is absolutely no excuse or circumstance that can justify what you see unfold on the video. It is unconscionable what this adult did to one of our students.”