Overton Teacher on Leave for Alleged Assault

OVERTON — An Overton ninth-grade math teacher was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday after a freshman accused the teacher of throwing a mechanical pencil at him. Overton Police Department Capt. Clayton Taylor said a 15-year-old and his parents filed assault charges against the teacher Wednesday. Taylor said the student, who has Tourette syndrome, told police the teacher threw the pencil at him Monday afternoon. Clayton said the pencil left a cut on the victim’s lip. Overton ISD Superintendent Alan Umholtz said the ninthgrade teacher, whose name will not be released, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Umholtz said this is the teacher’s first year with the district.

On Dec. 8, a Kilgore ISD special education teacher was placed on paid administrative leave after school officials said she slapped a 4-year-old autistic child. This past week, the teacher’s attorney said the educator remained on paid administrative leave.

The child’s mother filed assault charges against the teacher, but Kilgore police officials said their investigation was on hold because they were waiting on medical records from the boy’s mother.

The Kilgore educator’s teaching certificate is currently flagged while Texas Education Agency investigators review the case, according to TEA officials.