A former Alabama Teacher of the Year has been arrested and dismissed from her position following the circulation of a video allegedly depicting her striking her child with a belt more than 20 times.
Nicole Staples, 44, from Grand Bay, was a teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile. She was apprehended on Wednesday and charged with willful child abuse of a minor, according to a report by Fox 10 News.
The arrest came after her eldest son received a troubling video allegedly showing Staples harshly disciplining her 12-year-old son for not completing chores. He subsequently posted the footage online.
“I didn’t think she should be working at the school or treating my little brothers that way,” her son, Jackson Staples, told Fox News.
“She did it to me my whole life, and I’m 24 now,” he continued.
The video, seemingly recorded inside the family home, shows a woman believed to be Staples shouting profanities at the child, who is visibly upset and leaning over the arm of a couch, crying.
Moments later, the woman raises a folded belt and repeatedly hits the boy on the rear, leaving him clinging to the couch and crying from the blows.
She then manhandled him by his hair, slamming him to the floor before hoisting him up again and shoving him against the wall, all while continuing to yell at him.
Nicole Staples, a 44-year-old former Alabama Teacher of the Year, was arrested and fired after a viral video surfaced allegedly showing her whipping her 12-year-old son over 20 times with a belt (pictured)
Staples (pictured), resident Grand Bay and teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile, was taken into custody and charged with willful child abuse of a child under the age of 18 on Sunday
After posting a $7,500 bond Wednesday evening, Staples was released from Metro Jail and quickly bolted home in a golf cart (pictured)
After posting a $7,500 bond Wednesday evening, Staples was released from Metro Jail and quickly bolted home in a golf cart, according to the outlet.
Her son Jackson, who is no longer living at home, told Fox that he received the graphic video from a sibling last week.
He revealed that the conflict allegedly erupted over nothing more than his younger brother failing to complete his chores.
‘Something about he wasn’t cleaning the kitchen like we was supposed to be, he left, went to a neighbor’s house, came back and then it transpired into that,’ he told Fox.
Following a review of the haunting video, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch labeled its contents ‘egregious’.
‘I mean I’m all about disciplining a child if you have problems with them, if that involves a spanking, you know, everybody disciplines their children different ways, but that was way above and beyond any form of discipline,’ Burch told the outlet.
Even with Staples free on bail, Burch stressed that the investigation into the incident is far from finished.
‘The fact that another person in the home felt the need to video… that is somewhat telling,’ he added.
In the video, which appears to have been filmed inside the family home, a woman believed to be Staples is seen aggressively screaming profanities at the distraught child, who leans over the arm of the couch in tears before being beaten (pictured)
While the alleged incident took place off campus, the school (pictured) swiftly responded, announcing in a statement that she has been fired from her teaching position where she was previously crowned Teacher of the Year
According to new court documents obtained by WKRG News, Staples has pleaded not guilty and requested a preliminary hearing in Mobile County District Court.
‘There are probably more charges coming in the future,’ Burch told the outlet.
While the alleged incident took place off campus, the school where Staples worked swiftly responded, announcing in a statement that she has been fired from her teaching position where she was previously crowned Teacher of the Year.
‘Cottage Hill Christian Academy prioritizes the well-being of children above all else,’ Head of School Chris Brazell told WKRG.
‘We will always act promptly, transparently and responsibly when matters arise that may impact the safety or integrity of our school community,’ he added.
The younger brothers are all now staying with their aunt in Baldwin County, according to Fox.
‘Abuse is abuse,’ Burch told WKRG. ‘We’re going to make sure the children get the resources that they need to, you know, help them cope with this.
‘Hopefully she will feel the full force of the law when she faces a judge,’ he added.
Staples is scheduled to appear before a judge for a formal bond hearing on Friday.
