Teacher reprimanded after reportedly forcing first-grader to sit on floor for 22 days

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Spring Branch ISD parent is fighting to get her elementary school daughter out of a classroom where she claims she was extremely disciplined for writing on a desk.

The incident happened in May at Westwood elementary school.

"We had been told that she had written on her desk," said the girl's mother, who did not want to be identified.

It was a simple drawing in pencil, nothing too serious or permanent. The girl's punishment, at first, was not either.

"She was sent to the principal's office, she was made to write a letter to the janitor and lose recess and wash the desk herself," said the girl's mother.

The girl's mother says for the next 22 days, her daughter's punishment continued behind her back.

"She said, 'Daddy I don't have a desk.' He said, 'What you mean?' She said, 'I don't have a desk, I sit on the floor with the clipboard,'" said the girl's mother.

The girl's mother explained her daughter could barely see the teacher or the lesson for the day. Since May, the girl's mother has been trying to transfer her daughter and son out of the school. But she told Eyewitness News the district will not let her get into the school she wants.

In a statement Eyewitness News, Spring Branch ISD released the following statement:

"Spring Branch ISD has investigated the circumstances regarding the classroom management at one of our elementary schools. As the parents have acknowledged, the teacher involved has been appropriately reprimanded. The family has been offered multiple opportunities to transfer their child, either to another teacher within the school or to any elementary school in the District where enrollment is not capped, but instead they chose to file a grievance. The District is therefore working cooperatively with the family through the grievance process. The well-being of this and every other student in SBISD is always our priority."

The girl's mother has hired an attorney to help get the district to make an exception.

"I read the policy. I understand with the transfer policy is. That's for a regular student transfer. What happened to my daughter is not a regular occurrence that should've happened," said the girl's mother.