Schools
East Cobb Teacher Accused of Abusing Autistic Student Tells Her Story
Mary Katherine Pursley says she has a close relationship with the student she allegedly abused and that her actions were misinterpreted.
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An East Cobb teacher who was arrested for allegedly holding an autistic student over a trash can when he misbehaved said the incident was taken out of context and wanted to keep her job.
Find out what's happening in East Cobbfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Mary Katherine Pursley was at a Cobb County Schools tribunal on Monday defending herself against accusations that she was acting maliciously when she held the Mt. Bethel Elementary School student over the can by his legs at an afterschool program on April 29.
Pursley said 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.
Find out what's happening in East Cobbfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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. It is not clear if any of the witnesses will be called to testify in the tribunal.
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.
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