A teacher from Pflugerville Independent School District was arrested after reportedly fracturing the fingers of a 5-year-old kindergartner with autism on September 4. According to KXAN, McKinzie Merrell, 31, faced a charge of injury to a child and was booked into Travis County jail, subsequently being released Wednesday morning. At present, there is no listed attorney information for Merrell.
The school district confirmed to KXAN that Merrell started working for them in August 2023, and following an investigation into the incident, the teacher's employment was terminated. Surveillance footage analyzed by Pflugerville ISD Police showed an interaction between Merrell and the child, leading to the child being led outside. The affidavit noted an apparent upset Merrell and the `child's solemn demeanor following the interaction. Other staff members were interviewed, but no evidence of the student's alleged physical aggression was substantiated.
Simultaneously reported by FOX 7 Austin, the student's parents, Donte and Tabathe Moore, described their son's condition after school on the day of the incident. "He said, 'my hand hurts.' I said, 'your hand?' And he said, 'yes.' I said, 'what's wrong with your hand?' He said, 'she broke it. She bent it back,'" Donte recounted the conversation with his son. The parents' immediate concern led them to the hospital, where doctors confirmed fractures in two of the boy's fingers.
The Moore family expressed deep disappointment at the school’s response, highlighting a lack of immediate care for their son even after he alerted another teacher to his pain. "No one gave him aid. No ice pack, no one took him to the nurse. No one called his parents. No one called us. So our child sat in school for hours most of the day with a broken hand," Tabathe told FOX 7 Austin. The couple also conveyed their emotional turmoil and the effect of the event on their child's sense of safety at school.
Principal Genia Antoine of Pflugerville Elementary School took steps to inform the school community about the episode, ensuring parents that the matter was being addressed promptly and that the educator in question was no longer part of the school staff. The letter conveyed, "As soon as we were informed of this, we contacted our PfISD police and administration, and the teacher was immediately placed on leave while we conducted a thorough investigation," as detailed to families. Pflugerville ISD authorities have initiated further action against another teacher involved and are working closely with police in the ongoing investigation.
The incident has stirred a conversation about the treatment of students with special needs in educational settings. In his statement, Donte Moore emphasized the necessity for schools to provide a safe environment for all students, cognizant of the unique ways in which a child, particularly with special needs, may communicate distress or confusion. As the investigation continues, the Moore family hopes their experience will prompt better understanding and systems to safeguard children in schools.
