SAN ANTONIO — A local special-needs instructor is speaking out about the dangers she faces everyday working with students.
She decided to share her story after a Brandeis High School instructional assistant died from a head injury, after an incident involving a student with cognitive disabilities.
The teacher wanted to remain anonymous for fear of losing her job. She says everyday she goes to school, she worries either she or her assistants are going to get hurt.
"If we get hurt, if something happens to us, not much gets done. I've already been in the hospital like three times this year."
She calls the incident involving the death of Brandeis instructor 73-year-old Alfred Jimenez, and the special needs student, tragic.
Earlier this month, Northside ISD officials say Jimenez, who worked with students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities, suffered a head injury during an interaction with a student.
"A student bit me. I've been punched in the throat. I've been kicked in the stomach. The student picked up said knife, swat at my stomach."
She says after her student came back from COVID, there was no transition period, and noticed their behaviors changed.
"You can't just take them out drastically and then throw them back in, and expect not to have any type of aggressive behaviors."
Jimenez said this will be her last year in a classroom. While she loves her job, she says she is frustrated with the educational system. She says there needs to be more trainings, and trainings for parents to help with aggressive behaviors.
"It's our job to keep ourselves safe, our assistances safe, other students safe but it's really nobody keeps us safe. So, that's a struggle that we're having."
Northside ISD says the incident at Brandeis involving Alfred Jimenez, is being investigated by campus administrators and Northside ISD Police, following district policies and applicable laws.
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