Background: Thatcher Elementary School in Attleboro, Mass. (WPRI). Inset: Susan Martin (Attleboro Police Department).
A special-education teacher from Massachusetts was charged with assault after being accused of slapping two students with autism in the face.
Susan Martin, 57, was arrested on two charges of assault and battery against a person with an intellectual disability after she was accused by witnesses of slapping and shoving two five-year-old students with autism. Police said that Martin, who was released following her arrest, was seen slapping one young student in her classroom on Nov. 26 and pushing and slapping another student about an hour later. In a statement provided to WBZ, a local CBS affiliate, police said, “Both incidents were witnessed by several other staff members.”
Attleboro Police noted that Martin, who is a licensed special education teacher in the Attleboro Public School district, had been the subject of several complaints by “multiple staff members” who claimed that Martin “has made concerning comments about the students, is overly aggressive, and heavy-handed with the students.” Martin joined the school’s staff in August.
The Nov. 26 incident was described in court records and alleged that when one of the students got up from her seat in class a bit before noon, Martin reportedly “slapped [her] with an open hand on her che[e]k making an audible noise. [The student] held her che[e]k and started crying.” WPRI, a local Fox affiliate, reported that this alleged incident produced a visible mark on the child’s face.
The second incident occurred about an hour following a fire drill at around 1 p.m. when the second student also got out of his seat and reportedly took a swing at Martin. Martin then allegedly slapped him “across the face with an open hand.” The noise it produced was reportedly heard across the room by other staff, one of whom asked if the boy had slapped himself. Martin’s alleged reply was, “Oh no, I got him.”
Both of the students are diagnosed with nonverbal autism.
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Martin was arrested at her home, booked, and released on her own recognizance. She was ordered to have no contact with anyone under 16 and placed on administrative leave immediately after the Nov. 26 incident was reported.
David Sawyer, the superintendent of Attleboro Public Schools, released a statement on Dec. 9 after Martin’s arrest. He acknowledged that “a teacher allegedly slapped two students in a classroom” and had been arrested and charged with assault and battery. Sawyer said that in addition to the criminal investigation, the school first initiated an internal investigation into the allegations against Martin.
He stated further that, “The allegations represent a profound betrayal of the trust our community places in educators and the values we hold dear as a public school district. I would like to reiterate that the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. We have taken this situation very seriously since it was brought to our attention, and we are committed to collaborating with our law enforcement partners in their ongoing investigation.”
Martin pleaded not guilty to the charges against her when she was arraigned on Dec. 9. Her attorney told local news outlet Boston.com that she denied the allegations and reiterated that “[t]here was absolutely no harm to these children.” She is due back in court on Jan. 23.
