Pueblo School for Arts and Sciences teacher fired for allegedly hitting student in the head

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - A Pueblo School for Arts and Sciences (PSAS) teacher at the Jones Avenue campus has been terminated this week, after allegedly hitting one of his students during some kind of discussion.

School officials with PSAS confirm that they were made aware of the situation on Monday by the student's parent. According to the administration, their Human Resources department conducted an investigation, and the teacher was reported for the incident.

The student's mother, Bianey Melendez Valdez tells KRDO13 that when she picked her 5th grade son up from school on Monday, February 3, he said the teacher had hit him earlier that day.

"I called the school and made sure somebody was there to show me the cameras, and I called the cops. And when I got there, the assistant principal was the one who showed me the video." explained Valdez, who grew worried after hearing the shocking news from her son.

"I believe my kids, even if it wasn't  true, I was going to do investigate everything I had to do to make sure." she added.

Valdez says she watched the surveillance video which was captured by the school, and has yet to be released. Between that, and what her son explained to her, she explains the situation as unfolding like so:

Her son was walking out of one teacher's class, who was a female, to switch over to another teacher's class, the one who allegedly hit him, because that was the usual routine before lunch.

KRDO13 isn't naming the Teacher in question, because he has not been charged with a crime at this point in time.

She then says her son came back to the Teacher's class after lunch and he said that as soon as the Teacher saw him, he stated 'I don't want to hear a peep out of you', to which her son replied 'Okay my bad' before dropping his things off, and walking back out.

Valdez says, from watching the video she's unsure of the exchange, but the Teacher can be heard saying 'Stop talking back', to which her son replied 'Okay'.

That's when she says she can see the Teacher raise his open palm, and then smack her son in the back of the head. She says her son tried to duck, in realizing what was happening, and the Teacher's hand clipped his ear as well, leaving a ringing sound in his ear and a small headache.

Valdez clarified that when she has gone to parent-teacher conferences, she has viewed the teacher as 'young' and 'cool' and felt he was really playful with his students. She added that the Teacher explained to her, he had a little trouble with her son when it came to getting back into class, because his class is right after lunch time.

"I've never had complaints from [the Teacher] like any other time. That was the only time at [the] parent-teacher conference that he said, Oh yeah, I have trouble with him coming back [and] getting ready for class. But other than that, no." said Valdez, adding that her son never had any outward complaints about the Teacher either.

PSAS described the hit by the teacher as an open palmed smack to the head. They told KRDO13 that the staff member crossed the line, and they have zero tolerance for that sort of behavior. Officials added that the child and his wellbeing are their biggest concern as of right now.

Valdez was satisfied with the swift actions by the PSAS, however her attention is now turned to the police report she filed with Pueblo Police. She tells KRDO13 that officers came and spoke to her son on Tuesday.

Pueblo Police tell KRDO13 that they had filed papers with the District Attorney's office related to the investigation, and were in the process of reviewing the surveillance video, but clarified that no charges had been filed as of Wednesday evening.

"I won't be completely satisfied until he publicly acknowledges the fact that he hurt my son." Valdez stated.