This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A special education teacher has been on paid administrative leave for a month after an incident involving a student and allegations of child abuse, and her employment status is still under review, according to a school spokesman.
The West Lake Junior High teacher was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with child abuse, a class A misdemeanor, for pushing a student and then hitting him with a pop can, according to prosecutors.
Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said on Tuesday the school already took "appropriate action" against the teacher. She is still employed with the district; however, Horsley clarified on Wednesday that she has been on paid administrative leave since the incident.
"She has not been in the classroom and will not until her criminal charges are resolved," Horsley said.
Court records state on Feb. 29 a 14-year-old student said he brought a soda pop into class and drank it, which upset the teacher. The teacher argued with the student and pushed him out of the class and picked up the empty can and threw it at him, hitting him in the shoulder, causing scratch marks to his arm and back, court documents state.
Twitter: @CimCity