A disturbing pattern appears to be emerging in Shawnee County schools—one that raises serious questions about accountability, transparency, and who, if anyone, is protecting students from physical abuse.
In the latest case, reported by KSNT News, a local teacher admitted to slapping a student across the face. The incident was caught on video. The teacher has reportedly resigned—but is still being allowed to complete the school year in her classroom. Her name has not been released.
This follows other troubling stories, including reports at Topeka West High School and Meadows Elementary, where parents and students allege physical or psychological mistreatment with little or no public acknowledgment by district leadership.
What message are we sending when a teacher can strike a student and finish out the semester as if nothing happened?
And more importantly:
- Who is reviewing these cases?
- Are those reviewers independent and qualified, or are they district employees with potential conflicts of interest?
- Is there any public oversight or legal accountability built into this process?
Parents are told to trust the system. But when that system hides names, closes doors, and shields educators from consequences, how can trust survive?
This isn’t about one incident—it’s about a culture of secrecy. Closed-door investigations into physical violence against minors should concern every taxpayer, every parent, and every student in Shawnee County. Because if the process isn’t transparent, how can we ever believe that it’s just?
The question we now must ask is: Who is protecting our kids?
