An East Pennsboro Elementary School paraprofessional was terminated and is now facing legal troubles amid charges alleging she assaulted an autistic student under her care. The former school aide, Jessica Piper, 36, of Enola, is accused of several instances of physical aggression towards the child, who is non-verbal, over the 2023-24 school year, according to Local21News.
The incidents, as reported, involved Piper allegedly grabbing the student by the neck, pushing him to the ground, and covering his mouth to silence him. It was stated that the child was left with bruises on his arms and jaw police say witnesses at the school claimed the aggressive behavior "was not done in a gentle manner." After being alerted to the situation, the East Pennsboro School District asserted, "Ms. Piper was removed from her position once we were formally notified of the investigation pending allegations of misconduct," according to a statement they released by ABC27. Piper now faces charges including felony endangering the welfare of children and misdemeanor simple assault.
A tip from school staff to Childline initiated the investigation that led to these charges against Piper. During the investigation, witnesses reported seeing Piper's aggressive actions, with one going as far as to say that they lost sleep over how the student was treated, WGAL notes. The student's mother noticed the bruises but had not documented them as she was unaware of the cause.
Piper, employed through Substitute Teacher Service (STS), was suspended without pay once the allegations came to light in May, said J.R. Godwin, vice president of business affairs at STS, in a statement obtained by WGAL. Despite the allegations, Piper did not work at any schools between the time she was suspended and the filing of charges. Her preliminary hearing is set for October 23 as the community awaits further developments in this deeply troubling case.
