Parents say videos of son being abused at Oklahoma school will ‘haunt’ them forever
Authorities are investigating five Oklahoma classroom employees for abusing two students, parents and officials said.
Hugo Public School officials announced the employees were placed on administrative leave after receiving “an allegation of misconduct,” according to a Jan. 31 letter to families posted on the school’s Facebook page.
The employees included two teachers and three paraprofessionals, KXII reported citing Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park.
The sheriff’s office said staff were caught on camera kicking, hitting, pinching and slapping two boys, ages 12 and 14, KOTV reported.
“I received a call from Hugo Middle School that no parent wants to receive,” according to a Facebook post from one mother who said her son is special needs. “They stated they had watched video footage of my child being abused.”
One teacher, 49-year-old Yolanda Dunbar, was booked into jail Feb. 5 on two felony counts of child abuse, court records show. Attorney information for Dunbar was not available.
“My family and I sat in the DAs office yesterday and had to watch the videos of what this evil woman did,” the parents of the other boy involved said in Feb. 8 Facebook post.
“We had to see things that no parent should ever have to see,” the family said, adding that what they watched will “haunt” them.
The school board met Feb. 7 to discuss Dunbar’s termination and voted to accept the resignations of the other four staff members, according to the meeting agenda.
“We are very disheartened about this entire situation and none of those people are still here,” Superintendent Brandy Blanlock told KTEN.
“We will do everything in our power to make sure they have a good education. Their children will be protected,” Blanlock told the outlet.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 8:09 AM with the headline "Parents say videos of son being abused at Oklahoma school will ‘haunt’ them forever."
