A Chickasha special education teacher is facing criminal child abuse charges after investigators say she improperly restrained two elementary school students in February. Court filings and district records identify the educator as 45-year-old Amber Johnson, a former Grand Elementary staff member who is now at the center of a criminal case.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to court documents, the first incident unfolded on February 20. Investigators allege Johnson pulled an eight-year-old student to the floor, used her body weight to restrain the child and left the student injured, even though the child’s Individualized Education Plan specifically barred the use of restraint.
Filings also describe an encounter two days earlier involving a nonverbal student. In that case, Johnson is accused of forcing the child back into a seat, putting her hand over the student’s mouth and appearing to lift her hand as if she were about to strike, as reported by KOCO.
Charges and Legal Response
On April 28, prosecutors charged Amber Johnson with two counts of child abuse. A judge set her bond at $75,000, and she is scheduled to return to Grady County court in May.
Attorney Katelyn Elrod, who represents families in the case, said the parents are not just watching from the sidelines. She told reporters that “they are seeking truth, justice and accountability because vulnerable children are being taken advantage of,” as reported by KFOR.
District Timeline and Response
Chickasha Public Schools placed Johnson on administrative leave on February 20, the same day as one of the alleged incidents. District officials say they turned over records from an internal investigation to law enforcement.
The district also reported that Johnson had been recertified in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention in July and that she had worked at Grand Elementary since August 2020, according to KSWO.
Parents Demand Answers
Some parents who raised the alarm say the fallout for their children will not end with a court date. April Sales told reporters that “even seeing her in the orange, you would think that that would have given me peace, but it doesn’t.”
Another parent said she is speaking publicly for families who feel their children cannot. She explained that she wants to “be their voice,” because her son “does not have one,” according to KFOR.
Training and Policy Context
District officials noted that Johnson was recertified through the Crisis Prevention Institute’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention program. That training emphasizes preventing crises and using verbal de-escalation, with physical holds described as a last resort.
Oklahoma guidance also requires school districts to report incidents of restraint or seclusion involving students with disabilities to the state education office, as outlined by the Crisis Prevention Institute and the federal discipline compendium for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
What Comes Next
The case remains active in Grady County courts, with Johnson due back in May. For now, the charges are allegations that will be sorted out through the legal process.
Community members who have spoken publicly say they are looking for more than a verdict. They are calling for accountability, stronger protections and clearer safeguards for students who are least able to speak up for themselves.
