2 teachers caught on Zoom call bad-mouthing students, school officials say

TOLEDO, Ohio. (WTVG/Gray News) - Two teachers in Ohio were caught on camera bad-mouthing students on a Zoom call, according to school officials.

It all started when a concerned mother called a meeting with a Reynolds Elementary School teacher and a Toledo Public School special education administrator to discuss her son getting beat up in class.

“He was coming home with multiple bruises bloody noses. He was coming home saying he was going to kill himself. Just a numerous amount of things,” the mother said.

She couldn’t believe what she heard after she logged off the Zoom call.

It was all recorded and the school district also sent the mother a transcript.

“He is annoying af. It’s not like um. I don’t excuse this but I tried to tell mom this is a behavior classroom. All these kids are in here for a reason,” the teacher said.

The teachers went on a rant for at least six minutes, WTVG reported.

The teacher continued saying, “And he’s getting hurt and the thing about wanting to kill himself that’s a learned behavior. You know my class. All day long he screams I hate my life. I hate my life. I’ll kill myself and he did learn that in here. Half my class says that all day long.”

The mother said they were unprofessional.

“My 6-year-old saying he wanted to kill himself and it not being reported and her just saying it so calmly that’s a regular behavior in my class. It should be reported because kids are taking their lives every day,” she said.

The parent said her son wasn’t the only student talked about on the call.

“(Blank) beat him up. (blank) beat him up. (blank) beat him up. (blank) beat him up? Oh yeah (blank) is mean. Everyone always sees (blank) and like why is he in this class and I’m like (makes a face). And (blank) to nobody knows (blank) they’re like why is (blank) in that class because like he’s an attempted murderer. (laughing) He will chase you down with his pencil. (more laughing) Oh my god,” the teacher said.

Toledo Public Schools is working with the administration at Reynolds Elementary to address the comments by the two staff members.

The district said they will take additional and appropriate steps following the holiday, including possible disciplinary action.

There was also an allegation of an administrator at Reynolds roughing kids up while restraining them. The teacher said during the meeting there appeared to be no documentation of the incidents.

“I know enough that you’re supposed to put them in a cross down here. He will full-arm wrap their neck. The kids are screaming I can’t breathe, you’re hurting my neck,” the teacher said.

The little boy’s mom hopes school leaders will live up to their words.

The mother has removed her son from the school.