High school student charged after allegedly slapping teacher across face

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WXII) - A North Carolina high school student is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a teacher by slapping her twice across the face. He also faces disciplinary action that may lead to him being expelled.

The incident happened Monday at Parkland High School in Winston-Salem.

Video of the alleged assault circulated widely on social media, leading to an outcry from parents, education officials and law enforcement. In the 40-second clip, the teacher does not rise from her seat after being hit hard twice.

“Mortifying, unacceptable, egregious,” said Tricia McManus, superintendent of Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. “Definitely should never happen on a campus in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools.”

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has charged the juvenile with two counts of misdemeanor assault on a government official and one count of communicating threats.

District Attorney Jim O’Neill said in a Tuesday press conference that when someone assaults a teacher, the justice will be “swift and mighty.”

The teacher involved in the incident declined medical treatment and returned to work Tuesday, according to O’Neill.

Along with legal action, McManus says the student will have a hearing about the future of his education. She is recommending he face the highest level of disciplinary violation, which could lead to him being expelled.

“We have to work together with our community, with our families. We’ve got to all play a part in making sure these kinds of behaviors stop,” McManus said.

Bryan Profitt with the North Carolina Association of Educators says the video of the alleged assault was “profoundly sad.” He says stopping these kind of incidents starts with implementing more counseling and administrative resources in schools.

“We do need all of those things, and we need to respect and protect the people who go in there every day to work with our future,” Profitt said.