Teacher's aide accused of shoving special needs student - KCTV5

Teacher's aide accused of shoving special needs student - KCTV5

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV/AP) -

A teacher's aide in the Kansas City School District is accusing of shoving an 11-year-old student who has Down syndrome.

Both state social workers and school district officials are investigating the teacher's aide after another aide and a teacher came forward to report that the employee in question had shoved Devon Williams.

Darwin Williams, the boy's father, said he wants criminal charges filed. He filed a police report, and Kansas City police confirm that detectives are investigating. 

Devon is a student at the African-Centered College Preparatory Academy off East Meyer Boulevard in Kansas City.

Darwin Williams said he is outraged. He said he was told that the aide shoved his son against a wall with no warning.

When Devon got home that day, Darwin Williams said he and Devon's mother could tell something was wrong.

"He was not his normal self," Darwin Williams recalled. "He came home with his head down and moving real slow. Normally, when he comes home from school, he's happy-go-lucky."

But he couldn't tell his parents what happened, and his parents didn't know until they were contacted by state social workers, who were alerted by district employees. 

The 49-year-old aide denies that she shoved Devon. She provided a written statement to the school in which she said she is completely innocent and would never commit such a terrible act against a child.

Citing privacy laws, a Kansas City Public Schools system spokesman said he could not discuss the specific allegations.

The district did issue the following statement:

"KCPS takes the health and safety of its students seriously, and does not tolerate the abuse or harassment of any student. In general, and as mandatory reporters, any allegation of abuse results in a notification to the state's child abuse hotline, where it is reviewed by state officials. Concurrently, an investigation is undertaken by KCPS and police are notified. Appropriate actions taken based on the findings of those investigations."

Darwin Williams said the district desperately needs to reopen a school for special needs children. The Delano School was closed in 2011, and Darwin Williams maintains this wouldn't have happened if Delano were still open.

"They need special care and special teachers for them," he said. "They can't operate correctly in the public school system. They need a special school for special needs students."