Cobb Schools Tribunal Decides Fate of 'Trash Can' Teacher

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A Cobb County School District tribunal has voted to fire an East Cobb special education teacher who allegedly held an autistic boy over a trash can when he misbehaved.

A seven-person tribunal voted 6-1 in favor of terminating Mary Katherine Pursley on Thursday, with only Cobb County Board of Education member David Banks voting against the decision, the Marietta Daily Journal says.

Pursley held an autistic Mt. Bethel Elementary School student over a trash can by his legs at an afterschool program on April 29.

Pursley said on Monday that she has a close relationship with the child in question and had been attempting to end his unruly behavior by “shaking out the grouchies,” then tipping him over to pour the “grouchies” into the trash can, WSB-TV reports.

Several adults witnessed the incident, police said. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the adult witnesses were two paraprofessionals and Mt. Bethel’s afterschool director. Mt. Bethel’s website identifies the program’s director as Heidi Nunn.

The longtime educator was arrested and charged with first degree cruelty to children and was released from the Cobb County jail on a $5,000 bond, records show.