Her family filed a lawsuit last month.
Photo of Sharla Sims:
The issue is special ed programs. These paraprofessionals face risks while working in these programs.
Posted on 02/28/2023 2:21:42 AM PST by Tired of Taxes
Sharla Sims died in 2021, three days after being attacked by a special education student at Spruce High School. Her family's now suing DISD for its alleged failures.
DALLAS — The family of former special education teaching assistant has filed a federal lawsuit against the Dallas Independent School District.
The children of Sharla Sims is accusing the district of negligence, after the teaching assistant was attacked by a student in her classroom and later died.
“Every teacher in this city, every teacher in this state, every teacher in this country should be able to perform their job without the fear of being violently attacked at work,” said B’Ivory Lamarr, attorney for the Sims family.
Sims’ family, supporters and their attorneys held a press conference outside a Dallas ISD school on Monday, to uncover details of the lawsuit and the 56-year-old woman’s death in January 2021.
“She was actually punched and thrown into a bookshelf repeatedly,” said Lamarr.
According to court documents, Sims was working at Spruce High School when a special education student described as ‘a very large 17-year-old with significant behavioral and learning disabilities’ violently attacked her.
The lawsuit reads, “Ms. Sims screamed in intense pain unable to stop the attack as others looked on helplessly.”
Attorneys claim there were at least three other documented assaults involving that student.
“DISD knew of the danger. They were well aware of it and had been. But they didn't address it,” said Kirk Claunch, another attorney representing the family.
Lawyers said Sharla Sims saw a school nurse after the attack and went home. They said doctors discovered a tear in her aorta. Sims allegedly suffered continued pain to the point she couldn’t move.
“Doctors realized this was a fatal situation,” said Claunch.
Sims died three days after the violent attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfaa.com ...
Her family filed a lawsuit last month.
Photo of Sharla Sims:
The issue is special ed programs. These paraprofessionals face risks while working in these programs.
I hope they get justice.
We need reform schools back.
RIP to Sharla.
I wonder if this lady made a video at the time?:
https://fb.watch/iZAyQBrIMF/?mibextid=NnVzG8
I worked with people with developmental disabilities for decades. Most were never violent. The ones with dual diagnosis were more problematic. I always read as much history as possible. When in doubt, insist upon a chair, spot near the door, but NEVER with your back to the door. Also, being keenly aware of antecedents in order to calm someone down long before any escalation. I once witnessed a classroom that had 11 students and 9 staff. I was just visiting 1 client, and we met outside, not in the classroom.
Yeah... There's a lot of these set loose and terrorizing every major city.
It doesn’t matter what his sob story might be, whether he was abused or stupid, he was objectively dangerous and should not be around the rest of the public.
This is not a case for reform schools. This is a case for institutionalized treatment for these tortured souls. This woman was killed because people like former President Jimmy Carter wanted to do the “humane” thing and educate these monsters. Some of them are truly unmanageable and should be in a more secure environment. Additionally, a woman has no business trying to handle someone twice her size.
Here’s the lawsuit filed by the family: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zqLa-ARSkK6T5f8VMU3WTLAR8ae7FlOz/view
The student had a history of physical aggression.
I can’t find any mention that the student was ever charged or arrested.
Sharla’s sons found out what happened to their mother when it was mentioned in this whistleblower lawsuit:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1suZhShbuvG7_jcG0hzpoucvWpAkxyBV3/view
Think of it it. The baseline IQ isn't the greatest for may of these budding "scholars". Add in some disabilities and you are talking about overgrown rabid punks liable to go off at any moment. "Ticking Time Bombs" is a cliche, but an apt one.
Bring back state institutions where these evil monsters can be warehoused in order to protect society.
Thanks for posting about your experience. It’s a tough job that I’m sure can be rewarding, too. Kudos to anyone who can do it.
Special Ed varies in complexity and risk. The required endurance and awareness far exceed the standard educational parameters.
Whatever kind of school or facility, I hope it’s staffed by people who can physically handle these situations.
This special needs kid had a history of violent behavior. He’d already kicked and punched this lady before.
The last time, the rest of the staff could only watch and wait until he stopped himself.
In the same manner that some are more equal than others, some black lives matter more than others.
Around the nation, students are being told that they can beat the shit out of their teachers, or threaten their lives, or kill them, and that it’s a violation of their civil rights if they are punished, and that it’s the teacher’s fault that they can’t control their classes.
It’s worse for white teachers, because other teachers and even administrators can psyche the students up to interpret the white teachers’ attempts to teach or discipline them as racism.
Probably not. Police Departments often simply defer to the school security (resource) officers, who won’t do anything. Comments like, “Bitch, I’ll put you in a body bag” and even physical assaults are ignored. Even though the school security officer is a police officer, the school district and not the teacher instructs the security officer what to do about the situation. I don’t know that the security officer HAS to listen to school district, but they probably witness so many hundreds of crimes that they’ve given up.
Evaluation of these students are candy coated and smoothed over to keep violent unruly young adults in a system they do not belong by counselors, school administrators, numbers people for federal funds and the parents.
Same for in the home with these juvenile monsters. No arrests will be made because “it’s domestic” and the child is emotionally disturbed. You literally have to get a judge to order commitment to get the danger out of the home, and even then the kids know how to game the system and they’re back home after a week or so.
“Her children and family add they only found out about the January 2021 incident a few months ago, after a former Dallas ISD employee blew the whistle about administration’s alleged failed actions.”
Well, when you have episodes like these when dealing with the Amish, you have to keep them quiet, don’t you?
And let’s also keep in mind that “emotionally disturbed” often only means “prone to violence.” We’re not dealing with any objective medical test.
AMEN!! This was HORRIBLE to watch.
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