Police probe injury to a child

MARSHALL — An educational aide has been terminated from Marshall ISD after being arrested for allegedly swinging a student by her feet last week. The Marshall ISD Police Department was made aware of an incident involving former educational aide Rachel Kirspel and a student at the Marshall Early Child Hood Center on May 14.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by our news partner KETK, Kirspel had hung a 5-year-old student upside down by her feet and “had swung her side to side and then up and down,” hitting her head. Kirspel told investigators that she was trying to help get the kids on their mats for nap time but one student did not and instead was “playing around.” Kirspel put the student over her shoulder but when that didn’t work, she hung her upside down.

The student told investigators that Kirspel had pulled her nap mat from underneath her and flipped her over before picking her up by her feet, swinging her, and calling her “ugly.”

An employee who witnessed the incident said they were outside the classroom when they heard Kirspel saying, “you can tell your mama didn’t raise you right,” and heard kids screaming. The employee told Kirspel to put down the student and to leave the room. Kirspel told investigators that she left and quit.

Kirspel was arrested by the Marshall ISD Police Department on Monday with the charge of injury to child/elderly/disable with the intention of bodily injury, according to Harrison County Jail Records.

Kirspel is being held at the Harrison County Jail with a $50,000 bond.

In a statement from Marshall ISD obtained by KETK News, the school district stressed the removal of Kirspel following the incident:

“Marshall ISD is aware of misinformation circulating surrounding the recent arrest of an Educational Aide. Upon notice of the incident, Marshall ISD first ensured the student’s wellbeing and safety. The aide was immediately removed without the ability to return, was investigated, and terminated. The MISD Police Dept. has investigated the incident and has referred it to additional law enforcement. Marshall ISD has also followed all protocol in referring this incident to CPS and TEA. We are extremely disappointed by allegations on social media that MISD has done anything other than what is right and legal but we are proud of the swift, student-focused, and decisive response of our staff. Employee actions like those alleged will not be tolerated. MISD remains committed to providing a safe and caring learning environment for our students.“

Marshall ISD