WHITE PINE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A White Pine teacher accused of hitting a student with an iPad had had previous problems at the school system, according to a personnel file obtained by WVLT News.
The case centers on Joseph Lee. Friday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Lee had assaulted the student and was facing a charge for child abuse.
According to Lee’s personnel file, it isn’t the first time he faced consequences for his treatment of students. The file contains a letter outlining a “conference of concern” claiming Lee violated a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) in April of last year.
An IEP outlines how students with special needs are to be educated and treated while at school. According to the file, Lee took a student outside in direct sunlight, even though they had a sensitivity to light.
“On April 18, your mentor strongly advised you against taking this student outdoors and despite the student being escalated you chose to take [them] outdoors,” the letter said.
That same document claimed that Lee was also reprimanded for “continued inappropriate contact with students.”
It said Lee was seen throwing a student into the air playfully and letting students sit on his lap.
“You commented several times to the class that you knew you were not to engage in this behavior but chose to do so,” the letter said.
Lee was taken to the Jefferson County Detention Center on Friday. He’s also been suspended from the school system.
Story courtesy of WVLT
