Mother of Heritage Elementary student shocked after teacher grabbed her daughter

UPDATE (10/19/23):

Heritage School District #8 Superintendent Tom Davis told WAND News, in a statement, that student safety is the district's top priority.

However, Davis said he is not able to comment on the situation at Heritage Elementary School because it involves student information.

"The district cannot comment on employee personnel matters citing Illinois work privacy guidelines and employees' right to due process."

____

HOMER, Ill. (WAND) — It's video getting a fury of reaction online, a teacher grabbing a five year old child at Heritage Elementary School in Homer. WAND News spoke with Champaign Sheriff's Office, and the child's mother. She was shocked to see what happened, and even more shocked to learn the teacher is still at school.

"She believes that her parents are sending her to a safe plan to learn, where she's supposed to be safe- and she's very clearly not," Bailey Gray told WAND News.

Gray said she first found out about the incident at Heritage Elementary School, from other parents. That same day, October 3rd, she met with the principal.

"So I brought it up, I said 'I was told Leia was pulled by her hair, like she was running out of her classroom and she got pulled by her hair in the hallway' and Ms. Sanders said 'that never happened Leia was with me all day'." Gray explained of her interaction with Principal Kristi Sanders.

Gray felt the school wasn't taking the incident seriously and filed a report with Champaign Sheriff's Office.

"A day or two later, they went and pulled the cameras and got all their statements," Gray said.

Police records show the teacher admits to grabbing the child's hair and pulling her to the ground. Deputies gave her a Notice to Appear on a battery charge. But the Champaign County State's Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the case last week.

"Its been so many emotions for me- like am I doing the right thing? Should I be homeschooling my kid? Like what else is going on in that school since this is being covered up?" Gray asked.

Then, she saw the surveillance video this week, for the first time.

"I was angry. I have this habit of crying when I get mad, instead of crying when I'm sad. So I just started crying and I just told him how livid I was was and how not acceptable this is for anyone," Gray explained.

She said this teacher is still in the elementary school.

WAND News did expect a statement from the Heritage School District Superintendent, Tom Davis, however we have not heard back from his office.

WAND News will continue following this developing story.