SISD Investigates Employee for Hitting Student

SOCORRO- Since the beginning of the school year, one H.D. Hilley Elementary School student has been complaining to his family that he doesn't feel comfortable at school.

"He would get home and say she stepped on him, she was calling him dumb in front of the whole class, she was drawing him on the board like putting him down and he would complain that she was pulling his hair or smacking him in the back of the head," his brother said.

His family says they told the principal about the alleged abuse, but nothing seemed to change.

"He didn't want to go back to school, he would cry because he didn't want to go back to school," his brother said.

Socorro Independent School District's Assistant Superintendent, Pat O'Neill, confirms that allegations have been made against an employee and that they are on paid leave while the district investigates.

"When this happens, it is a disappointment when these types of allegations come forward. Of course, the employee is innocent until proven guilty, that's what our country is based on. We are going to look into it and we take these allegations very serious," O'Neill said.

The student's brother says he's concerned for his brother and other students in the school.

"She wouldn't leave any marks, if you pull hair and step on somebody who has shoes on, it won't leave a mark. At first we thought maybe he just doesn't like the teacher but, we talked to other parents and they said their kids were complaining about it too," his brother said.

But, SISD says parents of H.D. Hilley students have nothing to be worried about.

"It's a wonderful school, it's a safe school, all you have to do is walk through the halls and you can tell the culture of this school is one where kids feel safe and feel comfortable," O'Neill said.

The district says it will continue to investigate until the truth comes out.