Teacher resigns after allegedly spitting on special needs student

BAYTOWN, TX (KTRK) -- A Baytown special education teacher quit instead of being terminated for spitting in the face of a student with severe disabilities.

Internal documents obtained by Eyewitness News detail the investigation. They also suggest the teacher was going to be charged with Assault with Bodily Fluids, a Class C Misdemeanor. No record of the charge exists. Therefore, ABC13 is not identifying her.

The incident happened August 31st at Goose Creek CISD's David Crockett Elementary. The principal contacted the district's Human Resources Department, saying the 43-year-old teacher spit in the face of a non-verbal 8-year-old with autism. The documents say the teacher self-reported and admitted she "spit back at the student after he had spit at her repeatedly."

It was the student's first day at the school. The teacher said it wouldn't happen again.

The HR director planned to recommend her termination based on this spitting incident as well as previous personnel issues, according to the documents, but a district spokeswoman confirms she quit first.

"I can confirm that the employee voluntarily resigned. However, we are not at liberty to discuss employee performance issues or details about students due to confidentiality laws," wrote Beth Dombrowa, Goose Creek CISD Director of Communications, in an email.

Thursday night, the teacher quickly shut the door of her Baytown apartment and wouldn't answer questions. Online records show she has a valid teaching certificate.

The internal documents describe the student as having "severe disabilities." He is not identified. CPS was notified and his parents indicated they were hoping the teacher would be charged.