A group of parents with special needs elementary students have filed a lawsuit against the Charleston County School District, alleging that a teacher mistreated their children.
Among the students at Drayton Hall Elementary School are four young children in Karen Moore’s special education class. According to court documents filed on July 17, three of the students have Down syndrome, while one has autism.
In the Spring of 2024, the situation came to light when Kierra Tucker, a substitute teacher, worked in Moore’s class. Tucker was deeply disturbed by the condition of Moore’s classroom, prompting her to express her shock and dismay through a social media post.
Tucker claimed that the water cups for the children were contaminated, and there were unsanitary conditions on the changing table, floor, and wall. Additionally, soiled diapers were found on the table, and broken glass was present on the floor. According to her account, Moore was observed yelling at children in a verbally abusive manner, causing them to feel frightened.
According to court documents, Amanda Gillespie, a teaching assistant in Moore’s class, has confirmed Tucker’s statements. Gillespie mentioned that she had informed the school administration multiple times about Moore’s behavior. However, it was only after Tucker’s social media post that any action was finally taken.
Moore has been put on administrative leave as the school district and Charleston Police conduct an investigation.
A parent alleged that Moore forcefully handled their child, restraining her and moving her in a rough manner, according to the lawsuit. The child would also return home with wet and dirty diapers and started experiencing night terrors, causing them to scream and cry. On their way to school, the parents mentioned that the child would often seek refuge under a blanket to evade going.
Another parent reported an incident where Moore allegedly physically assaulted their child, grabbing him by his hair. The lawsuit explained that as a consequence, the child’s behavior became more aggressive and they experienced illness and viruses during the period of abuse.
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The mother of the three-year-old reported that her child would display aggressive behavior towards the family dog, using words like ‘no’ and ‘bad’. This behavior was noticed by both parents after the child returned home from school with unexplained bruises.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuits allege that the Charleston County School District displayed negligence and a lack of care in various ways. These include allegations of not ensuring a safe environment for students, inadequate monitoring and supervision of Karen Moore, failure to investigate claims against her, neglecting to prioritize children’s health and safety, and non-compliance with internal policies.
They are requesting to be compensated for damages, legal expenses, and any other necessary expenses as determined by a jury.