A paraprofessional at Evanston-Skokie School District 65 was arrested last month following a “physically aggressive” incident that was directed toward a student during class, according to a message sent by Superintendent Angel Turner on April 8 and later confirmed by the Evanston Police Department.
Isabella Young, 69, a paraprofessional at Lincoln Elementary, was arrested on March 25 and charged with misdemeanor battery by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, according to Cook County circuit court records.
The incident occurred in the classroom on March 18, when Young allegedly threw a juice box at an 8-year-old child, according to Cook County Circuit Court records and emails forwarded to the Pioneer Press relating to the incident.
Cristina Leon, the child’s mother, told the Pioneer Press that her son, who has been diagnosed with level-two autism, was throwing a ball in the classroom when Young picked up his juice box and threw it at his head “in retaliation.”
While Leon confirmed her child was not injured as a result of the incident, he is “not the same child that he was at the beginning of the school year,” she said.
“It’s been extremely discouraging to have a child who loved school, to go and be fearful,” Leon said. “He can’t tell me what’s going on, but giving him a feeling chart and asking him how school makes him feel, he just says, ‘scared.’”
Young did not immediately respond to a Pioneer Press request for comment.
Leon said her child began demonstrating behavioral issues several months ago, following an abrupt medical leave by his special education teacher, Ann Stella-Tayler.
Following Stella-Tayler’s absence, several “temporary subs” were placed in the classroom, Leon said.
During this time Leon said her son started having “severe emotional outbursts” and “came home with bruises all over his body for a two-week period.”
“[Administrators] assured me that they were hands off and that nothing was actually happening,” Leon said. “And then, after this meeting, the substitute that was in the classroom, she resigned as well.”
Days before Leon was scheduled to meet with Lincoln Elementary Principal Amber Samuels, Samuels called Leon to inform her about the juice box incident.
Samuels told Leon in an email that her child was the only student present in the room at the time of the event and an internal district incident report was promptly filed.
She also wrote that there were “two adults present in the classroom who directly witnessed what occurred,” but no video recording of the incident.
Leon said she filed a police report directly following the incident, which led to Young’s arrest, but said Young ultimately turned herself in on March 25, and that was later confirmed by the Evanston Police Department.
Asked whether she plans to file a civil lawsuit against the school, Leon said she is “considering the options” but ultimately just wants to see an improvement from the district.
“Nobody has reached out to me personally from the district, and so, if that is what it comes to to make sure that these children are safe and they’re following the laws put in place, then that’s what I’ll have to do,” Leon said. “But I really want my neighborhood school to be safe for all children.”
Lincoln Elementary parents were notified of the arrest and incident on April 8, in a community update message sent by Superintendent Turner.
“We understand that an arrest was made following a report with the Evanston Police Department and as such we want to make sure we communicate with all families,” Turner wrote. “The District is fully supporting all investigations to ensure a just resolution.”
Turner confirmed in the message that the incident occurred in March and the Lincoln Elementary leadership team followed “district protocol by immediately launching an investigation into the incident, notifying the family, and making a report to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).”
The paraprofessional was removed from the classroom and from working with students the next morning, Turner added in her message.
The incident remains under investigation and the “staff member has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome,” she wrote.
“We recognize that news of this nature is upsetting and we want to communicate openly while also respecting the integrity of the processes that are now taking place,” Turner wrote.
“Because this matter involves personnel and an active investigation, we cannot share additional information. We will continue to follow all required procedures and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
Young is expected to appear in court on April 27 at the Skokie Courthouse, according to Cook County circuit court records.
