A Jefferson County special education teacher is being charged with assault and child abuse after allegedly using an iPad to hit a 7-year-old student. Joseph Drake Lee, 31, was arrested at White Pine School following the incident which occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. This altercation led the school to briefly enforce a lockdown while the situation was being resolved.
The teacher's arrest transpired after a School Resource Officer (SRO) was notified yesterday of the assault that happened the prior day. An investigation, which involved the SRO and an investigator from the Criminal Investigation Division, swiftly concluded, finding evidence that Lee had struck the child with the iPad. As reported by WVLT, the student was subsequently checked out by the school nurse.
In a statement obtained by WATE, Jefferson County Director of Schools Tommy Arnold confirmed the arrest of Joseph Lee. Additionally, he stated that local authorities, including the Department of Children's Services, were promptly contacted as part of the response.
According to a report by WBIR, the district took immediate steps to fully cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies. In the interim, the school returned to its schedule after the temporary lockdown was lifted. Arnold emphasized the district's commitment to "ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority." Lee is now suspended from his position pending further investigation.
