Teaching assistant arrested for assaulting student with autism
ONE. YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW OUR
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF BILL
BELICHECK STEIN AT UNC ON WRAL
DOT COM. A LOCAL TEACHING
ASSISTANT IS NO LONGER ON THE
JOB ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A 5
YEAR-OLD STUDENT WITH AUTISM
WARRANTS SHOW REGINA GREAT,
GRABBED THE CHILD BY THE NECK
AT IN EDGECOMBE COUNTY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
>> SHE SET TO APPEAR IN COURT
FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW
FACING ASSAULT BY
STRANGULATION, ASSAULT ON AN
INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY
AND CHILD ABUSE CHARGES.
WRAL'S CARLY HAYNES SPOKE WITH
MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY TODAY WHO
SAY THIS HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL
AS THE CHILD WAS GETTING ONTO
THE BUS.
>> FAMILY MEMBERS OF THAT CHILD
HAVE BEEN DEEPLY UPSET EVER
SINCE THAT SITUATION THAT
ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED NEARLY A
WEEK AGO. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
HAD REPORTED IT TO SHERIFF'S
DEPUTIES SOON AFTER. AND
DEPUTIES BROUGHT THE SUSPECT
INTO CUSTODY. LAST NIGHT.
AND INCIDENT AT THIS ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL SENT A TEACHING
ASSISTANT TO JAIL WERE GINA
GRAY IS ACCUSED OF GRABBING A
STUDENT BY THE NECK AND
STRIKING HIM AT GW BULLOCK IN
EDGECOMBE COUNTY.
>> FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE CHILD
TELL US HE'S 5 YEARS OLD AND
HAS AUTISM, ACCORDING TO
WARRANTS, THE PHYSICAL INJURY
CAUSED PAIN IN HIS NECK IN A
MESSAGE TO PARENTS, THE SCHOOL
WROTE, WE'RE FULLY COOPERATING
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THEY
HANDLED THIS MATTER. AND WE'RE
COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING A SAFE
AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERY CHILD.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY
PARENT OF A CHILD WITH AUTISM
THINKS ABOUT.
>> IS MY CHILD SAFE WHEN THEY
ARE IN THE CARE OF OTHERS.
COREY DONE WORKS WITH
DISABILITY RIGHTS. NORTH
CAROLINA.
>> BUT SPEAKING OF THESE
PARTICULAR ALLEGATIONS, SHE
GENERAL STAFFING SHORTAGES
CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER REPORTED
STRESS AMONG CAREGIVERS AND
SUPERVISORS. I THINK THAT IT'S
ESSENTIAL THAT. ENG BE
DELIBERATE.
>> AND THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUDE
REAL SCREENING FOR THE ABILITY
TO REGULATE.
I'M A CAREGIVER. EDUCATORS OWN
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE IS TOO
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. EDGECOMBE
COUNTY SCHOOLS SAY GREAT IS NO
LONGER EMPLOYED WITH THE
DISTRICT.
>> SAYING THEY DON'T TOLERATE
BEHAVIOR THAT AFFECTS STUDENTS
WELL-BEING. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
SAID GRAY HAD WORKED AT THE
SCHOOL SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST
YEAR.
>> SHE HAS BONDED OUT OF JAIL.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAID
SHE'LL BE APPEARING IN COURT
TOMORROW. OUR ATTEMPTS TO REACH
OR TODAY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.