Police Investigate Allegations of Pre-K Teacher’s Physical Misconduct Towards Children

A pre-kindergarten teacher at a public school in Georgia is facing serious allegations of mistreating children under her supervision. Her assistant reportedly witnessed the incidents but did not report them, according to officials.

Tanesha Herrington, aged 47, has been charged with eight counts of first-degree cruelty to children, as stated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Meanwhile, Courtney Dutton, aged 37, is charged with failing to report child abuse.

The case came to light when the Claxton Police Department received an anonymous tip-off alleging that Herrington was abusing students in her classroom, prompting the GBI’s involvement.

A security camera installed in the classroom captured the incidents on video, the GBI reported. The footage allegedly shows Herrington engaging in disturbing acts against students, most of whom are under the age of 5.

The GBI detailed that the video evidence reveals Herrington repeatedly hitting two students in the face, grabbing one by the throat, lifting children by their arms while they were asleep on the floor, slapping a student’s arm, pushing them, and throwing a backpack at a seated child. These incidents reportedly occurred over both the current and previous academic years.

Dutton, who is described as a paraprofessional, which means a trained aide assisting a professional, was allegedly present during several of these incidents but did not fulfill her mandated duty to report the abuse, according to the video evidence.

At the time of the GBI’s announcement on Friday, the agency said additional footage was still being sifted through, and “additional victims may be identified, potentially resulting in further charges.”

The investigation is ongoing, and when it concludes, the Atlantic Circuit District Attorney’s Office will be tasked with prosecuting those charged.

Claxton is a small city in the center of Georgia, located about 50 miles west of Savannah.