Teacher accused of hitting special needs student

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 26-year-old Houston teacher is out of a job, and charged with a felony, accused of injury to a child.

In this case, the child is a 14-year-old special needs student.

According to a court document, Julia Neal allegedly slapped the girl when the child pulled off Neal's hat, and caused the teacher's weave or wig to shift. The incident, according to a teacher's aide, happened last December in the Klein Intermediate school cafeteria.

This month, as stated in an affidavit, school district police were told of the allegations. The case was turned over to the DA's office and Neal was arrested at her home Wednesday.

A Klein ISD spokesperson says Neal is no longer an employee, and when told she would be terminated from her job, Neal chose to resign. A statement said Klein does not tolerate any student being treated in an inappropriate manner.

Court records also seem to indicate the special needs student was sent home from school for pulling her teacher's wig. The girl's mother was told to pick up her child, but she told investigators that she was never informed her daughter had been hit by the teacher.

Neal is free on $5,000 bond. Her first court appearance is early next month.