A former teacher at Zion Temple Christian Academy in Avondale has been charged with assaulting a 9-year-old student, prompting her resignation from the private school. Angela Carson, 64, faces a misdemeanor assault charge following an incident that occurred on January 15. Court documents obtained by WLWT reveal that Carson is accused of picking up the boy by his jacket collar and shaking him before putting him down.
Following her arrest, Carson pleaded not guilty and was released without having to post bond, with an order to stay away from the child, as detailed by Dayton 24/7 Now. The pretrial hearing for Carson is scheduled for next Monday. The circumstances leading up to the alleged assault have not been disclosed.
Zion Temple Christian Academy took immediate action against Carson, initially placing her on leave without pay and banning her from school property once the allegations surfaced. "Ensuring the safety and care of students in our school is our top priority. We are aware of allegations concerning one of our former staff members and are taking the situation very seriously. As soon as we became aware of allegations, we took swift action -- assigning the teacher to home, without pay, and prohibiting the teacher from being on school property. The staff member has since submitted their resignation and is no longer employed with us. We are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities and will continue to do so," read a statement from the school, which was shared by FOX19.
The legal process is still unfolding, but the situation raises concerns about the measures in place for protecting children in educational environments. The school's firm stance on the matter reflects an understanding of the gravity of such allegations and a commitment to student well-being. How the case will ultimately be resolved in the courts remains to be seen, but Carson's teaching career at Zion Temple Christian Academy has ended abruptly.
