Prosecutors say a normal school day at Lincoln Elementary in Evanston turned into a criminal case after a paraprofessional allegedly threw a juice box at an 8-year-old student with level-two autism during class on March 18. The staff member, identified in court records as Isabella Young, was arrested on March 25 and has been placed on administrative leave while investigators review the incident. School leaders notified families and reported the matter to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, prosecutors filed a misdemeanor battery charge against Young on March 25, and court documents say a hearing is set for April 27 at the Skokie Courthouse. The student’s mother, Cristina Leon, told the paper that Young "picked up his juice box and threw it at his head in retaliation," and that her son now says he feels "scared" about returning to school. The Tribune also reports that Lincoln Elementary leadership filed an internal incident report and that Superintendent Angel Turner sent a community update to parents on April 8.
School and district response
Lincoln Elementary, which serves neighborhood elementary grades, lists its campus at 910 Forest Avenue in Evanston on the district website. District 65's Lincoln site includes contact information for the school, along with resources families can use if they need support after classroom incidents or want to follow up with administrators.
Legal next steps
According to court filings and reporting from the Chicago Tribune, Young faces a misdemeanor battery charge and is due to appear April 27 at the Skokie Courthouse. The Skokie Courthouse, which hears municipal criminal matters for the area, is listed at 5600 Old Orchard Road by Cook County court sources; see the Cook County court listings for details. Young is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
What families are saying
Parents and caretakers in the district say the allegation has sharpened long-running concerns about classroom safety and staff oversight. District officials have encouraged families to reach out to school administrators with questions and to request supports for students who may have been affected by the incident or by news of the charge.
