TPS teachers bad-mouth students on Zoom call

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A Reynolds Elementary School teacher and a Toledo Public School special education administrator were caught on camera bad-mouthing students.

Toledo Public Schools has launched an investigation.

“He is annoying af. It’s not like um. I don’t excuse this but I tried to tell mom this is a behavior classroom. All these kids are in here for a reason,” the teacher said.

The teacher and special education administrator went on a rant for at least six minutes during a Zoom call.

A concerned parent called a meeting to discuss her son getting beat up in class.

The mother wants to remain anonymous.

“He was coming home with multiple bruises bloody noses. He was coming home saying he was going to kill himself. Just a numerous amount of things,” the mother said.

The parent couldn’t believe what she heard after she logged off the Zoom call.

The school district sent her the transcript.

This was also caught on the recording.

“And he’s getting hurt and the thing about wanting to kill himself that’s a learned behavior. You know my class. All day long he screams I hate my life. I hate my life. I’ll kill myself and he did learn that in here. Half my class says that all day long,” the teacher said.

The mother said they were unprofessional.

“My six-year-old saying he wanted to kill himself and it not being reported and her just saying it so calmly that’s a regular behavior in my class. It should be reported because kids are taking their lives every day,” the mother said.

The parent said her son wasn’t the only student talked about on the call.

“(Blank) beat him up. (blank) beat him up. (blank) beat him up. (blank) beat him up? Oh yeah (blank) is mean. Everyone always sees (blank) and like why is he in this class and I’m like (makes a face). And (blank) to nobody knows (blank) they’re like why is (blank) in that class because like he’s an attempted murderer. (laughing) He will chase you down with his pencil. (more laughing) Oh my god,” the teacher said.

TPS issued 13 Action News this statement

Toledo Public Schools is working with the administration at Reynolds Elementary to address questionable comments by two staff members following a parent meeting last Friday morning. The meeting was videotaped unbeknownst to those involved, and the district sent a link to the parent. Toledo Public Schools holds its employees to the highest professional standards and will take additional and appropriate steps following the holiday, including possible disciplinary action,” James Gant, Esq. Deputy Superintendent said.

There was also an allegation of an administrator at Reynolds roughing kids up while restraining them. The teacher said during the meeting there appeared to be no documentation of the incidents.

“I know enough that you’re supposed to put them in a cross down here. He will full-arm wrap their neck. The kids are screaming I can’t breathe, you’re hurting my neck,” the teacher said.

The little boy’s mom hopes school leaders will live up to their words. The mother has removed her son from the school.

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