A shocking incident at Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in Bronzeville has left a 5-year-old student allegedly assaulted by a Chicago Public Schools teacher, Laundon Hubbert. The teacher is accused of pushing the boy to the floor, kicking him multiple times, and ripping off his hoodie during a confrontation that was partially captured on video by another staff member. Hubbert, 52, has been charged with aggravated battery of a child younger than 13 causing great bodily harm.
The incident took place on February 6, when a teaching assistant entered the classroom and witnessed Hubbert grabbing the boy’s paper and crayons, stuffing them into a pouch attached to his chair. When the boy tried to push her hands away, Hubbert allegedly pushed him out of his chair, causing him to fall to the floor. She then proceeded to push him again, causing him to hit his head on the assistant’s chair.
During the confrontation, Hubbert allegedly made threatening remarks to the boy and eventually removed his hoodie, causing him distress. The teaching assistant reported seeing Hubbert kicking the boy multiple times, with at least one kick striking him in the chest. The boy continued to cry and kick back as the assistant tried to console him.
Another classroom assistant began recording the incident on video, prompting Hubbert to instruct the first assistant to take the other children outside the classroom. After the incident, the boy was found with a scratch on his face by the assistant.
Following the incident, a complaint was filed with school officials, leading to an investigation by Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Despite prosecutors’ request to detain Hubbert, Judge James Costello denied it.
In a statement, a CPS spokesperson refrained from commenting on the specific allegations but provided a letter from Woodson’s principal addressing the situation and assuring parents of their commitment to student safety.
This incident is the second in recent weeks involving a Chicago Public Schools employee physically attacking a young student. In a separate case, Tamika Odeh, a special education assistant at Parker Elementary School, was charged with aggravated battery of a child causing great bodily harm after allegedly injuring an 8-year-old boy during an incident at the school’s lunchroom.
These incidents highlight the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of students in educational settings and the need for thorough investigations and appropriate actions to be taken in response to such incidents.
