NORFOLK, Va. — Police officers arrested a Chesapeake Public Schools special education teacher this week after parents accused that teacher of abusing their children.
Janice Maw is facing assault and battery charges.
“It was alleged that she she hurt my daughter and assaulted my daughter, and I’m not gonna let anybody touch my kids,” Elizabeth Leemon said.
Leemon filed charges against Maw in June. She claims Maw physically abused her 11-year-old daughter, Christina in the classroom.
A Chesapeake Police Department (CPD) spokesman said the alleged crimes all happened at Grassfield Elementary School.
“Did I see any physical injuries? No I did not,” Leemon said. “But I did see change in my daughter so I know I believe that they‘re true.”
Father Anthony Myrick claims Maw also abused his 11-year-old daughter, Milan. Like Christina, Milan is wheelchair-bound and she's verbally mute.
“It was alleged that my daughter, along with other students in the class, was being abuse by Ms. Janice Maw,” Myrick said. “My daughter is totally dependent, fully disabled, she cannot talk, she cannot walk, she cannot speak for herself at all. She cannot defend herself.”
A division spokesman said Maw is on administrative leave.
In a statement, the spokesman said: “This does not imply that the School Division has made a finding of wrongdoing. Chesapeake Public Schools and Child Protective Services investigated these allegations previously and believed them to be unfounded.”
According to court documents, the alleged abuse happened in May.
“They [Christina and Milan] can’t talk,” Leemon said. “They couldn’t tell the CPS workers what actually happened to them.”
Myrick added: “Our family is broken, our trust tin humanity is broken, our trust in the school system is broken. It’s a long way to go as far as our healing is concerned.”
Both Leemon and Myrick said they want cameras in the classroom.
Back in May, Leemon and Myrick's wife gave details about about the alleged abuse of special education students at Grassfield Elementary.