A substitute teacher in Kyle, Texas was fired and arrested Friday when an online video showed her allegedly assaulting a high school sophomore, officials said.
The incident, which was captured in a foreign language class at Lehman High School, was later circulated online.
UPDATE: the substitute teacher seen attacking a student in this video has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault. DETAILS: https://t.co/G0A2QGcWgU pic.twitter.com/tl9FIwFSJD
— Kris Betts (@KrisB_KVUE) November 9, 2019
Students alerted school officials and 32-year-old Tiffani Shadell Lankford was immediately removed from the classroom.
Hays County sheriff’s deputies later responded and Lankford was arrested and then released. She was charged with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony.
TEXAS SUBSTITUTE TEACHER ARRESTED: Tiffani Lankford, 32, faces a charge of second-degree felony aggravated assault after deputies say several videos showed her beating a high school student. https://t.co/pzaqoKmdVE
— KBTX News (@KBTXNews) November 10, 2019
The victim, reportedly 16 years old, was taken to a hospital by her father for an examination.
“Under no circumstance is that behavior tolerated at Lehman High School or in Hays CISD,” Lehman Principal Karen Zuniga said in a statement to parents, obtained by KXAN. “We take the safety and security of our students seriously. We took swift action when this incident occurred and will do everything necessary to protect our students.”
What we know about the substitute teacher who attacked student in classroom:
— Bryce Newberry (@Bryce_Newberry) November 10, 2019
- Tiffani Lankford bonded out of jail
- Has a previous domestic violence charge out of Maryland
- Attorney for the student launched an investigation of the teacher and @HaysCISDhttps://t.co/lUd2BUPyMW pic.twitter.com/3VmnC27QMX
The incident prompted reaction from the Texas governor.
“Conduct like this won’t be tolerated in Texas classrooms,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “The substitute teacher who committed this heinous act has been arrested and will face serious legal consequences.”
