Teacher intentionally trips autistic preschooler running in classroom, Texas cops say
A Texas teacher has been charged after authorities said she intentionally tripped a nonverbal student, local news outlets reported.
Lynn Shin, a former Head Start teacher at the Round Rock Independent School District, was arrested Dec. 27 on a charge of misdemeanor assault of an elderly or disabled victim, Williamson County jail records show.
Court records show a grandparent volunteering in Shin’s classroom Sept. 26 heard Shin say “I swear if that kid runs past me one more time, I’m going to trip him,” then she stuck her foot in his path, causing him to fall and cry, KVUE reported.
The student, around preschool age, is autistic and nonverbal, and was running back and forth while “stimming,” or attempting to self-soothe, KEYE reported, citing court documents.
Shin told investigators she was frustrated and that tripping the child was a “split-second mistake,” the outlet reported.
The teacher resigned after the incident, saying it was “a wake-up call and that the job may be too stressful for her,” the Austin American-Statesman reported, citing court records.
Shin worked in the Head Start program, for infants through 5-year-olds, in the Round Rock ISD since August, the outlet reported. McClatchy News reached out to Round Rock ISD for comment Jan. 3 but did not immediately hear back.
Attorney information for Shin was not available.
Shin was released on $15,000 bond, jail records show.
Round Rock is about a 20-mile drive north from Austin.
