Georgia Pre-K Teacher Accused of Repeatedly Hitting Students and Grabbing a Child by the Throat While Assistant ‘Did Nothing’
CLAXTON, GEORGIA — A Georgia pre-K teacher is under arrest after shocking classroom footage allegedly showed her hitting children, grabbing one student by the throat, and throwing a bookbag at another while her assistant stood by and did nothing, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Authorities identified the teacher as 47-year-old Tanesha Herrington, who faces eight counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. Her assistant, 37-year-old Courtney Dutton, was charged with failure to report child abuse after allegedly witnessing the assaults without notifying authorities.
Anonymous Tip Leads to Disturbing Discovery
The investigation began when the Claxton Police Department received an anonymous tip about potential abuse inside a pre-K classroom at Claxton Elementary School in Evans County, the GBI confirmed.
Investigators quickly discovered that a security camera inside the classroom had captured multiple incidents showing Herrington violently handling her students — most of whom were just four or five years old.
“The footage depicts Herrington hitting two students repeatedly in the face, grabbing a student by the throat, forcefully lifting students by the arms while they were lying on the floor asleep, slapping a student on the arm and then pushing the student, and throwing a bookbag at a student who was seated on the ground,” the GBI said in a statement.
The videos reportedly include incidents from both the current and previous academic years, raising concerns that the alleged abuse may have gone unreported for an extended period.
Assistant Accused of Staying Silent
Authorities say Dutton, a paraprofessional aide who worked alongside Herrington, was present during several of the attacks but failed to take action or alert authorities, as required by law for mandated reporters.
The GBI noted that investigators are still reviewing additional classroom footage, suggesting more victims may be identified and further charges could follow.
“The videos are deeply disturbing,” one investigator told local station WJCL. “These were very young, defenseless children.”
District and Community React
The Evans County School District has not publicly confirmed whether Herrington and Dutton have been terminated, but both have been removed from the classroom pending the outcome of the investigation.
Parents in the Claxton community say they are outraged and heartbroken by the allegations.
“These are babies,” one mother told local reporters. “You trust teachers to protect your children — not harm them.”
The Atlantic Circuit District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case once the GBI concludes its investigation.
Child abuse cases like this one highlight the importance of vigilance and transparency in early education environments. Anyone with information about possible abuse in Georgia schools is urged to contact local law enforcement or the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).
Stay informed with ChicagoMusicGuide.com for more developing stories and community safety updates.