An employee at Harahan Elementary School in Jefferson Parish has been arrested and placed on administrative leave, according to district officials. The individual in question, Teran James, is a staff member listed online as a fifth-grade teacher at the school. As reported by WDSU News, James is facing charges including simple battery, being a fugitive, and various traffic-related offenses. The exact circumstances of the arrest have not been made public.
Following the incident, a Jefferson Parish Schools spokesperson released a statement, which was obtained by WWL Louisiana, saying, "We are aware that an employee of Jefferson Parish Schools was arrested at Harahan Elementary. We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement in this matter. The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority." Despite the ongoing investigation, further details regarding the reason for James's arrest remain sparse.
Jefferson Parish Schools has not provided additional commentary on the nature of the charges or the specific events leading to the arrest of James. What is known is that an alleged encounter involving simple battery precipitated the law enforcement action taken at the elementary school. Efforts by FOX 8 Live to elicit more information from the Harahan Police Department were not immediately successful.
The district has emphasized a cooperative stance with the authorities and reasserted its commitment to the security of its school community in light of these events. Though an employee stands accused, Jefferson Parish Schools maintains, as told to WDSU News, "The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority." As this story continues to unfold, further updates are anticipated.
