Public Hearing to Take Place 9 am on January 21-23, 2020 at the LSISD Service Center in Rosenberg, TX

(Black PR Wire) HOUSTON, TX - Public Hearing for LCISD Abused Special Needs student will take place January 21-23, 2020, 9 AM at the LSISD Service Center at 4901 Ave I Rosenberg, TX 77471. The family, Houston celebrities including Slim Thug and Trae Tha Truth, and the public at large are outraged after videos surfaced of a special needs child being mistreated by a Lamar Consolidated ISD teacher.

The parents released several videos showing acts of verbal and physical mistreatment of their child by former George Ranch High School teacher Ms. ReGina Thurston. Upon learning of this incident in December 2018, the District immediately placed Ms. Thurston on administrative leave. Ms. Thurston subsequently resigned on Jan. 16, 2019. The teacher was reported to the police and is under investigation by the Texas Education Agency.

In the videos, Thurston can be seen kicking the disabled minor, knocking over his desk, and forcing him to pick up the desk and other objects. The family is hoping to raise the public's awareness of how special needs children are being treated in classrooms at LCISD.

According to school law attorney Susan Soto, who represents Mrs. Thurston, “While the video may be disturbing to some, the techniques that Ms. Thurston employed are based on the student's individual needs and on a specific discipline management theory.”

Soto explains, “Over the course of the school year, Mrs. Thurston attempted a variety of discipline management strategies with the student in order to minimize a pattern of dangerous behavior. The video depicts an Applied Behavior Analysis strategy that focuses on improving specific behaviors.”

The victim’s mother April, also a teacher, with a Masters Degree in Special Education said, “My son follows an Individualized Education Plan or IEP. This plan is a collaborative effort where teachers, administrators, and parents meet to develop an IEP. Not only is Applied Behavior Analysis strategy not in my child’s IEP, but ReGina is not certified in ABA.” 

Mom continues, “My son has Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, and Autism, so his ability to communicate is limited. The repeated actions she took to discipline him were not appropriate. He’s never displayed dangerous behavior, and if he threw things, it was in response to him not being able to communicate.” 

April hopes that shedding light on the problems within the Special Education system will lessen and exposed the incidents of abuse. Her goal is to provide support to families, teachers, and special needs children.

Special Education advocate Karen Mayer Cunningham and the family’s attorney Samuel Wesley established the George Ranch Whistle Blower Line 713-353-3960 and can be contacted at sam@wesleyandassociates.com.

Contact Trea Davenport at trea@treaday.com to arrange an interview with April and/or Trae Tha Truth.

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