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written by: Jeffrey Wolf  Kevin TorresÂ
9 December, 2010
DENVER – A special-needs teacher is on paid administrative leave while Denver Police investigate a possible case of child abuse. The teacher is accused of scratching a 5-year-old student across his face.
9NEWS is not naming the teacher because she has not been charged. The boy’s family is urging the district and police for a harsher punishment than paid leave.
The incident allegedly happened Tuesday at Doull Elementary School in the Denver Public School District.
Zach Gallegos says his son Isiah can get out of hand, but only because he is a special-needs child.
“She [the teacher] said that she had repeatedly asked him once, twice and then on the third or fourth time she said she grabbed Isiah by his face and when she grabbed him by the face he kind of turned and got scratched,” Gallegos said.
According to Gallegos, the teacher failed to notify the principal of what happened. Instead, he says she went directly to Isiah’s mom and eventually to him. Wednesday morning, they all sat down with the assistant principal.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident. The teacher has been placed on administrative leave, and both Doull Elementary and DPS are working closely with the Denver Police Department during the investigation,” Kristy Armstrong with Denver Public Schools said.
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