Head Of Newport News Schools Fired After Teacher Shot In Classroom: Report

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The Newport News school board voted Wednesday to fire Superintendent George Parker III after he faced a barrage of criticism after authorities say a first-grade teacher was shot by a 6-year-old student, according to a report.

School board members voted 5-1 to oust Parker, The Daily Press reported. The board then named Michele Mitchell, the district's executive director of student advancement, as interim superintendent.

"It is important that we state that this decision was made without cause as Dr. Parker is a capable division leader who has served NNPS for nearly five years through some extremely challenging circumstances," School Board Chair Lisa Surles-Law said after the vote, according to The Daily Press. "This decision is based on the future trajectory and needs of our school division."

Newport News police have accused a 6-year-old boy of shooting Abigail Zwerner, 25, inside a first-grade classroom on Jan. 6. Police said the boy took his mother's 9mm handgun to school, pulled it from his backpack and used it to shoot Zwerner.

Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as "intentional," saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but is now recovering at home, a hospital spokesperson said.

Hours before the board's vote, Zwerner announced she plans to sue the school district.

• RELATED: VA Teacher Shot By 6-Year-Old To Sue Newport News School District

Zwerner's lawyer Diane Toscano said Wednesday that on the day of the shooting, concerned teachers and employees warned administrators three times that the boy had a gun on him and was threatening other students, but "the administration could not be bothered."

Parker told parents after the incident that a school official was notified about the weapon before the shooting. However, no gun was found when the child's backpack was searched.

Since the shooting, teachers and parents have publicly lambasted school authorities, accusing them of not doing enough to protect children and staff.

During a three-hour Newport News school board meeting dedicated solely to public comment on Jan.17, teachers and parents said students who assaulted classmates and staff were routinely allowed to stay in the classroom with few consequences.

They also said Zwerner's shooting could have been prevented if not for a toxic environment in which concerns are systemically ignored.

School administrators also accused administrators of downplaying the boy's behavior and repeatedly ignoring Zwerner's requests for help, according to a Washington Post report. Teachers told the Post that Zwerner alerted school officials about the boy's behavior and repeatedly sought assistance during the school year.

Messages obtained by the Post detail an incident prior to the shooting where the 6-year-old boy wrote a note, telling a teacher he hated her and wanted to light her on fire and watch her die. The teacher said the note was given to administrators, but they were told to drop the matter.

In a statement released by their attorney, the boy's family also said their son suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.

According to the family, the week of the shooting was the first that a parent was not in class with him.

"We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives," the family said.

READ MORE:

• School Downplayed 6-Year-Old's Behavior Before VA Shooting: Report
• Gun Used To Shoot VA Teacher Locked, Stored On Top Shelf: Attorney
• Angry Parents, Teachers Say Schools Failed To Protect Staff, Kids
• Boy's Backpack Searched Before Newport News School Shooting: Report
• Newport News Shooting: Can 6-Year-Old's Mother Be Charged?
• 6-Year-Old Used Mom's Gun To Shoot Teacher: VA Police Chief
• Newport News School Shooting: 6-Year-Old Shoots Teacher In Classroom

The Associated Press contributed to this report.