A Substitute Teacher Has Been Fired and a Principal Is Under Scrutiny After Bizarre Situation Allegedly Got Out of Control

A substitute teacher in Flint, Mich., has been fired and a school principal is under scrutiny after reports of out of control mouth-taping emerged. The substitute teacher is accused of putting tape over a second-grader's mouth, while the principal allegedly put tape over the substitute teacher's mouth in response to the initial claim.

No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the alleged incidents that reportedly occurred on Dec. 3 at Brownell STEM Academy, however, the Flint School Board is still investigating.

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MLive.com has more details on the bizarre case:

The former substitute teacher filed a police report [on Dec. 11] accusing the principal of assault, saying in the report that the principal took tape from a student’s hand and “aggressively placed it on the mouth of (the substitute teacher) causing laceration to his upper lip.” Flint Police Chief James Tolbert confirmed the report was filed against Brownell Principal Valeria Shepard, who could not be reached for comment.

Tolbert said Tuesday, Dec. 17, that there was not sufficient evidence to seek charges against Shepard after a police investigation. He said there was not an investigation of the substitute teacher because no complaint was filed against him.

Watkins alleged in the email that the principal taped the substitute teacher’s mouth after the substitute teacher taped the mouth of a student. He said the substitute “since has been fired from the district,” according to the email supplied to The Journal by school board member David Davenport.

Interim Superintendent Larry Watkins said the school board has contacted a law firm and intends to "take the appropriate disciplinary action regarding the principal's involvement."

Both mouth-taping incidents occurred inside a second-grade classroom, according to MLive.com.

Flint School Board member David Davenport said he doesn't think the district should file a police report against the substitute teacher. Flint schools spokesman Robert Campbell said the incidents are a personnel matter and are being investigated.

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