WASHINGTON — An investigation into alleged spankings at a prestigious school in Prince George’s County, Maryland did not turn up any evidence of child abuse, school officials say.
Parents accused a kindergarten teacher at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School in Greenbelt of spanking misbehaving children. They claim it took a year for the school system to address the problem.
Corporal punishment in public schools is illegal in Maryland.
Dora Kennedy French Immersion School is a National Blue Ribbon School and is part of the county’s public school system. Sherrie Johnson, a spokeswoman for Prince George’s County Public Schools, said school officials investigated the alleged spankings did not find evidence of abuse.
Parents were told of the outcome of the investigation at a community meeting Thursday night, Johnson said.
Johnson provided an emailed a statement on behalf of the school system:
“Anytime there is an allegation of child abuse PGCPS takes it very seriously. We investigate thoroughly to take the appropriate steps if there is any wrongdoing. With the completion of the investigation and no evidence of child abuse being found, PGCPS is focusing on a plan to move the school forward and continue the level of academic excellence it is known for as a National Blue Ribbon School.”
Meanwhile, the school’s principal Nasser Abi and the kindergarten teacher are no longer working for the school system.
School officials declined to say why the two were no longer there.
Johnson said the search for a new school principal is expected to begin in early 2016.
