VA- 6-YEAR-OLD is in custody after shooting teacher

[iamshadow21]

Boy who shot teacher allegedly tried to choke another

The notice of claim, which was obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, outlines prior behavioral issues the boy had at Richneck Elementary School and troubling interactions he had with teachers and students.

www.wdbj7.com

A 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher constantly cursed at staff and teachers, tried to whip students with his belt and once choked another teacher “until she couldn’t breathe,” according to a legal notice filed by an attorney for the wounded teacher.
...

Two days before the shooting, the boy allegedly “slammed” Zwerner’s cellphone and broke it, according to the claim notice. He was given a one-day suspension, but when he returned to Zwerner’s class the following day, he pulled a 9mm handgun out of his pocket and shot her while she sat at a reading table, the notice says.
....
The choking incident described in the notice was confirmed by the teacher....The teacher requested anonymity because she fears potential retaliation from the school district. ....she reported the incident to school administrators, ....
The boy was later moved into another class in another school.
....

I have a strong belief in the idea of disabled children being in the least restrictive teaching environment. I also believe that this is a child who is not safe to be outside of a specialised environment. I'll say it - he needs an institution. He needs one to one supervision. He needs to learn, yes, as much as he's capable, but this 'experiment' has been a catastrophic failure. Educate him, yes, but do so in an environment designed for children with his specific behaviour disorder/s. It's going to be safer for the other children, safer for the staff, and also, safer for him. It sounds weird, but he may actually feel safer and be less violent in an environment where he's not allowed to hurt people.

MOO

 

[ilovewings]

I have a strong belief in the idea of disabled children being in the least restrictive teaching environment. I also believe that this is a child who is not safe to be outside of a specialised environment. I'll say it - he needs an institution. He needs one to one supervision. He needs to learn, yes, as much as he's capable, but this 'experiment' has been a catastrophic failure. Educate him, yes, but do so in an environment designed for children with his specific behaviour disorder/s. It's going to be safer for the other children, safer for the staff, and also, safer for him. It sounds weird, but he may actually feel safer and be less violent in an environment where he's not allowed to hurt people.

MOO

I was just going to post this. This child is a clear and present danger to others.

 

[iamshadow21]

I was just going to post this. This child is a clear and present danger to others.

And I say it with complete empathy. To be that young and that out of control? That must be  terrifying. Your emotions are big and scary enough at six. He's escalating and escalating, trying to find the safe limits, and not being given them, not in any way that feels meaningful for him. So he's just getting angrier and louder and more violent. Mainstream school can't handle him, and he can't handle mainstream school, and it is cruel to continue to expect him to.

MOO

 

[Simply Southern]

Boy who shot Richneck Elem. teacher allegedly tried to choke another

The incidents were described in a notice sent to the Newport News school district by Diane Toscano, an attorney for teacher Abby Zwerner, informing the district that Zwerner intends to sue.

www.wtvr.com

.....
The claim notice says that Zwerner went to former Assistant Principal Ebony Parker's office at about 11:15 a.m. that day “to advise her that the shooter seemed more ‘off’ than usual and was in a violent mood." It also says the boy had threatened to beat up a kindergarten student and “angrily stared down” the school security officer in the lunch room.

The document describes several more warnings that Parker was allegedly given by staff about the boy having a gun. “Assistant Principal Parker should have called the police, instead she did not follow proper protocol and chose to do absolutely nothing,” the claim notice states.
......

 

[Simply Southern]

Ms Newton, is quick to enter her defense. Makes us wonder....all my opinion.

Boy who shot Richneck Elem. teacher allegedly tried to choke another

The incidents were described in a notice sent to the Newport News school district by Diane Toscano, an attorney for teacher Abby Zwerner, informing the district that Zwerner intends to sue.

www.wtvr.com

Pamela J. Branch, an attorney for Briana Foster Newton, the former principal of Richneck Elementary, shared the following statement on Monday afternoon:
"I am issuing a follow-up statement today in response to a misinformed report that an email referencing a student who was having behavioral challenges in Ms. Abby Zwerner's classroom on November 22, 2022, was the same student involved in the January 6, 2023, shooting.
The student who was the subject of this email is a completely different student. The school division can verify this and the fact that the student was not at Richneck Elementary School on January 6, 2023. We obviously cannot reveal the identity of the student, but everyone on the email communications knows that this is not the student from the tragic event on January 6th. However, on November 22, 2022, Mrs. Newton responded to Ms. Zwerner within five minutes of her initial email asking if this particular student had a behavior contract or a goal sheet in an effort to seek solutions to addressing this student's behavior. There was also communication from the teacher (Ms. Zwerner) and assistant principal (Dr. Parker) about scheduling a conference where the Dr. Parker would sit in and discuss putting this in place to support the student identified in the email.

Whomever provided this information to the media is irresponsible and reckless. As I mentioned in my press conference on February 2, 2023, we all need to be accurate, thorough, and thoughtful about continuing to put information into the public sphere before verifying information otherwise, it becomes more about creating a story than about seeking the truth. I am also confirming that Mrs. Newton remains employed with the school division awaiting reassignment."

​

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Wow, guys, wow. He has allegedly choked a teacher in the past (!) yet there was a deadly weapon in his house, and he didn't have a one-on-one aide in school. He was failed!
(But not by his angel-teacher who was still not giving up on him. I hope she uses her talents and light again someday, but in the kind of workplace she deserves.)
MOO.

Boy who shot teacher allegedly tried to choke another

The notice of claim, which was obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, outlines prior behavioral issues the boy had at Richneck Elementary School and troubling interactions he had with teachers and students.

www.wdbj7.com

 

[Simply Southern]

What saddens me the most....

I've read, reread VA Code for Education and find no law that holds school boards accountable. This will not be the first time administrators and school boards are allowed to continue processes that harm children.

The only accountability I see, is a civil suit. It appears from the above articles, teachers are afraid to speak up, afraid of "retaliation". Makes me wonder, what kind of retaliation? A bad reference, personal threats, public shaming, I truly am concerned.

From the SB public statement, they are familiar with "turning it over to the insurance". I am appalled, physiologically and physically sicken by the lack of empathy for teachers or students. But what is more disturbing, the citizens continue to votes these same officers in, year after year.

All my humble opinion.

 

[Simply Southern]

And I say it with complete empathy. To be that young and that out of control? That must be  terrifying. Your emotions are big and scary enough at six. He's escalating and escalating, trying to find the safe limits, and not being given them, not in any way that feels meaningful for him. So he's just getting angrier and louder and more violent. Mainstream school can't handle him, and he can't handle mainstream school, and it is cruel to continue to expect him to.

MOO

How did the parents handle him? Surely, there were incidents at home. Moo

 

[Ontario Mom]

Ms Newton, is quick to enter her defense. Makes us wonder....all my opinion.

Boy who shot Richneck Elem. teacher allegedly tried to choke another

The incidents were described in a notice sent to the Newport News school district by Diane Toscano, an attorney for teacher Abby Zwerner, informing the district that Zwerner intends to sue.

www.wtvr.com

Pamela J. Branch, an attorney for Briana Foster Newton, the former principal of Richneck Elementary, shared the following statement on Monday afternoon:
"I am issuing a follow-up statement today in response to a misinformed report that an email referencing a student who was having behavioral challenges in Ms. Abby Zwerner's classroom on November 22, 2022, was the same student involved in the January 6, 2023, shooting.
The student who was the subject of this email is a completely different student. The school division can verify this and the fact that the student was not at Richneck Elementary School on January 6, 2023. We obviously cannot reveal the identity of the student, but everyone on the email communications knows that this is not the student from the tragic event on January 6th. However, on November 22, 2022, Mrs. Newton responded to Ms. Zwerner within five minutes of her initial email asking if this particular student had a behavior contract or a goal sheet in an effort to seek solutions to addressing this student's behavior. There was also communication from the teacher (Ms. Zwerner) and assistant principal (Dr. Parker) about scheduling a conference where the Dr. Parker would sit in and discuss putting this in place to support the student identified in the email.

Whomever provided this information to the media is irresponsible and reckless. As I mentioned in my press conference on February 2, 2023, we all need to be accurate, thorough, and thoughtful about continuing to put information into the public sphere before verifying information otherwise, it becomes more about creating a story than about seeking the truth. I am also confirming that Mrs. Newton remains employed with the school division awaiting reassignment."

​

Well I mean, if the 11.22 kid wasn't even the same kid that shot the teacher, and yet, it was being implied in the media that it WAS the same kid, I think most all of us would be quick to point that fact out. The kid who shot her has enough issues all by himself without dumping some other kid's behavioral issues on him too. I suspect, whoever provided the 11.22 kid info to the media, was attempting to paint a lack of disciplinary action picture, and just allowed the public to assume it was the same kid. In other words, intentionally deceptive to create a story (just like the attorney said).

Being that this is a fact-based true crime discussion forum, I couldn't agree more with the attorney's words here:

"we all need to be accurate, thorough, and thoughtful about continuing to put information into the public sphere before verifying information otherwise, it becomes more about creating a story than about seeking the truth"

 

[Ontario Mom]

How did the parents handle him? Surely, there were incidents at home. Moo

If I had to guess, I'd say yes, 100% violent at home as well. How they handled him is a mystery since we know almost nothing about his home life. Other than, they sent him to a public school that was clearly incapable of dealing with the kind of issues this boy has.

 

[IDK]

If I had to guess, I'd say yes, 100% violent at home as well. How they handled him is a mystery since we know almost nothing about his home life. Other than, they sent him to a public school that was clearly incapable of dealing with the kind of issues this boy has.

And they kept a gun in the home that he was somehow able to access despite it being “secured”

 

[Elley Mae]

One of the parents were suppose to be in class with him, that week neither parent were there.

The school employees failed to take it serious enough to me.

Jmo

 

[georgiajean]

How did the parents handle him? Surely, there were incidents at home. Moo

Some children with intense behaviors at school are more settled in their home environment and routines--it is the unknowns and the sensory overload of schools that escalates their behavior.
Some children with intense behaviors are managed with screen time (it keeps them quiet and out of trouble for the moment) and threat of loss of screen time (many children play violent, inappropriate video games or spend all their time watching youtube videos, completely unmonitored by adults).
Some children with intense behaviors are in control of their home life, using fear and anger to get what they want, with adults who are at their wits end just trying to get through the day and find a little peace.
Many children did not receive the preschool supports they would have, during the Covid years, which sent many "unknown" children into public schools. Preschools do an incredible job of vetting children, finding the ones who will need more support, etc. I currently work with several children who slipped through the cracks, spent K and 1st grade in covid, and are now 2nd or 3rd graders, out of control with no supports. It is another crisis in our schools that are under funded, under staffed, and drowning.

Shame on this vice principal for not acting on this threat and information and failing to follow protocols.
Shame on the principal for creating an atmosphere where administration downplayed staff concerns.
<modsnip - off limits>

 

[lonetraveler]

I have a strong belief in the idea of disabled children being in the least restrictive teaching environment. I also believe that this is a child who is not safe to be outside of a specialised environment. I'll say it - he needs an institution. He needs one to one supervision. He needs to learn, yes, as much as he's capable, but this 'experiment' has been a catastrophic failure. Educate him, yes, but do so in an environment designed for children with his specific behaviour disorder/s. It's going to be safer for the other children, safer for the staff, and also, safer for him. It sounds weird, but he may actually feel safer and be less violent in an environment where he's not allowed to hurt people.

MOO

I read this article this morning and was totally shocked at the negligence shown by the Principal. There should be criminal charges for this woman. I'm also wondering about any relationship between the parents and the Principal. She totally ignored all the warnings. I'm disgusted.

 

[fred&edna]

We've entered week 5 since Ms Zwerner was shot... bring on the charges!!

ETA: If news reporters were able to obtain the communications from the school then so have the investigators. The picture is just becoming more and more clear.

 

[fred&edna]

It's likely these "administrators" will skip on their merry way to new jobs dealing with children or making decisions that are associated with children. It's infuriating.

 

[shotgun09]

My mind instinctively goes to the poor poor children in that classroom. What their little brains and hearts had to observe!
Violence, Destructiveness, Aggressiveness, Fear.
And, obviously it didn't stop. Until a shot was fired.
All those children were at risk, and were failed horribly.

Heads should be rolling...

 

[Simply Southern]

Well I mean, if the 11.22 kid wasn't even the same kid that shot the teacher, and yet, it was being implied in the media that it WAS the same kid, I think most all of us would be quick to point that fact out. The kid who shot her has enough issues all by himself without dumping some other kid's behavioral issues on him too. I suspect, whoever provided the 11.22 kid info to the media, was attempting to paint a lack of disciplinary action picture, and just allowed the public to assume it was the same kid. In other words, intentionally deceptive to create a story (just like the attorney said).

Being that this is a fact-based true crime discussion forum, I couldn't agree more with the attorney's words here:

"we all need to be accurate, thorough, and thoughtful about continuing to put information into the public sphere before verifying information otherwise, it becomes more about creating a story than about seeking the truth"

True, it was not the child shooter. It was ANOTHER child, in AZ class.

I wonder must how MANY children, with exceptional needs AZ and other teachers were expected to manage per class, without immediate attention in crisis conditions?

I do believe ANY threatening, abusive encounter affects ALL students in a class. Children are (supposedly protected) by federal and state law, to attend school in a safe environment.

All my opinion

 

[Simply Southern]

I read this article this morning and was totally shocked at the negligence shown by the Principal. There should be criminal charges for this woman. I'm also wondering about any relationship between the parents and the Principal. She totally ignored all the warnings. I'm disgusted.

And she defends herself thru an attorney, while she awaits reassignment. Moo...

Here's the NN SB policy for Principals, since 1993...

NNPS Policies & Procedures Manual
Section
C - General School Administration
Title
School Building Administration and Leadership
Code
CF
Status
Active
Adopted
July 18, 1973
Last Revised
December 15, 1993

Last Reviewed
June 16, 2020


CF - School Building Administration and Leadership

The School Board holds the Superintendent of schools responsible for the operation of the school division. The principal will be the administrative authority of an assigned school. The principal will coordinate all administrative and supervisory activities which occur in the building.
The principal is the instructional leader in the building and is responsible for developing and maintaining an environment and operation with the following characteristics of effective schools:

• safe and orderly environment;
• climate of high expectations for success;
• strong instructional leadership;
• clear and focused mission;
• opportunities to learn and time on task;
• frequent and appropriate monitoring of student progress;
• positive home/school relations.

BoardDocs® Policy: LI Professional Visitors and Observers

go.boarddocs.com

 

[Ceska]

Does it state anywhere, in any articles or news reports, about the choking incident, if that teacher reported the incident to police and Child Protective Services/Social Services? I guess it doesn't make sense to me, why didn't any of the teachers report this to police? Or, did they?