BRUCETON, Tenn. — Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central Elementary Pre-K teacher Debra Robertson was booked into Carroll County Jail on Wednesday morning, September 2, following allegations that she assaulted a student in her classroom last Friday, just three weeks into the school year.
According to an affidavit of complaint filed by Carroll County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer Chris Cole, Robertson forcefully held a 4-year-old male student by the neck and head area and shoved a biscuit into his mouth on August 28 at approximately 8:30 a.m. The affidavit states the child was visibly distraught after the incident and suffered a busted lip.
Robertson was charged with assault under T.C.A. § 39-13-101. Bond was set at $2,500.
In a statement, Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District said it received notice that Robertson was in the process of being charged with assault. The district said the charge involves allegations of mistreatment of a student in her classroom, and that Robertson was immediately placed on suspension on the date of the incident. She remains on suspension without pay pending the outcome of the case.
Anna Townsend, the child’s mother, said school officials contacted her on Friday afternoon to inform her of the incident, and she reviewed surveillance footage of the classroom.
“It was heartbreaking,” Townsend said. “It took everything in me and his father not to break out in tears in that office watching that. We had to hold it together.”
Townsend said the video showed Robertson attempting to forcibly feed her son after he refused to eat, resulting in a cut lip and a scratch on his face. Townsend said the footage also shows her son crying with his face covered afterward while Robertson continued berating him.
“My son simply did not want to eat breakfast, and she took it upon herself to try and force him to eat,” Townsend said. “I don’t see any excuse for what she did or why she did it.”
Townsend said it’s been a difficult few days since the incident.
“I hate that [my son] had to suffer because of this, but now a lot of people in the community who have reached out to me are relieved to know that this woman will not be around our children anymore,” Townsend said.
As of this publication, Robertson’s first court appearance date has not been set.
Carroll County Observer will provide more information as it comes available.
Why is our school district
continuing to hire mentally incompenate people? Don’t
they have any kind of TEST
or perhaps a more indepth
back ground check.Her actions have scared this child for life. Im so sorry to see this happening in our schools or any schools.
Very well said
This fills me with rage. I don’t understand how anyone could hurt a child, especially over not wanting to eat! My toddler refuses to eat multiple times a day! The amount of self-control these parents have and the staff at the school is remarkable. My question is where was the other teachers, the TA, was this the first incident, how often is footage reviewed?
Whats sad is back in 2019 the teachers aid had to secretly make a video to show the parent because admins would not do anything and she ended up getting fired and the teacher was protected and allowed to continue to teach. All the teachers aid was doing was she was trying to get proof to protect the kids and as a result was fired. Its time to expose all these Admins that have been brushing things under the table all these years too.
Guess she must’ve thought he REALLY needed a biskit.
It is heartbreaking that a child would be treated this way. That woman should have her teaching credentials revolked and she should do jail time, in my opinion. If it were my kid, I would sue the hell out of the school system. No excuse to scar a child like this. No excuse, and at 4 years old? WTH is wrong with this woman.
MS Debra never would do this
This is an outrage and a $2,500.00 bond with no court date. My daughter who is now 19 hated her when in pre-school said she was mean. Everyone who helped cover this up should be charged.