An Edgecombe County Public School teaching assistant is accused of assaulting a five-year-old student with disabilities.
Regina Gray, 47, of Conetoe, is charged with assault by strangulation, assault on an individual with a disability and misdemeanor child abuse.
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The Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call on Oct. 1 from the school system to report an assault on a student by a teacher assistant at G. W. Bulluck Elementary School.
Gray was arrested Monday. Gray is currently out on bond and is due in court on Wednesday.
According to the arrest warrant, Gray is accused of grabbing the five-year-old by the neck and striking him. The child has autism, according to the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office.
Family members say it happened as the child was getting onto the bus at school.
The school system told WRAL News that they were aware of the charges and Gray was no longer an employee of the district.
"While N.C. personnel law limits the information that the school system can share, we want to be clear that the safety of our students is our highest priority, and we will not tolerate any behavior that threatens their well-being. We are working closely with local law enforcement officials as they proceed with their criminal investigation and will continue to cooperate fully with our law enforcement partners," a spokesperson for the school district told WRAL News.
Gray began working with Edgecombe County schools in December 2024, according to the district.
Parents at G. W. Bulluck Elementary School were sent the following letter regarding the incident:
"We want to make you aware of a situation involving a former employee at our school. Last week, we were notified of allegations involving child abuse of a student by a school employee. The allegations were fully investigated by the school system, in cooperation with law enforcement, and the individual is no longer an employee of Edgecombe County Public Schools. Please know that student safety is and will always be our top priority. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement as they handle this matter, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for every child. Thank you for your trust in us and for your partnership as we continue to put students first."
"It's something that every parent of a child with autism thinks about: is my child safe when they're in the care of others?" said Corye Dunn, the Director of Public Policy for Disability Rights NC, an organization defending the legal rights of North Carolinians with disabilities.
While not speaking to the specific allegations, Dunn says staffing shortages are contributing to higher reported stress among supervisors and caregivers.
"It's essential that hiring be deliberate and thoughtful, and that it include real screening for the educator's ability to regulate their own emotional responses to difficult situations," Dunn said.