Substitute teacher fired
Published 11:26 am Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Bertie County Schools officials have fired a substitute teacher after she was caught on video cursing and threatening a student.
The incident, which happened nearly three weeks ago, was captured on Smartphone video by another student.
According to a report shown on WNCT-TV in Greenville, the video shows a music class at Bertie High School. A substitute teacher, Demetria Morris, gets up and appears to scold student Shaquaya Hunter for playing the piano. Shaquaya talks back, and then Morris gets in her face, starts to yell and presses her body up against the student.
The video further shows Morris allegedly using profanity repeatedly and she appears to threaten the student. Later, Morris backed down and returned to her desk.
Students in the class were interviewed and a report was sent to the county magistrate.
Meanwhile, the student’s mother contacted school officials the following day. The school reviewed the cell phone video and after an internal investigation Morris, who was in her first year as a substitute, was fired. Officials further said they never had an issue with Morris’ classroom behavior before this.
According to law enforcement officials, two misdemeanor charges have been filed against Morris: simple assault and battery, and communicating threats. Morris’ first court date is set for Nov. 21.