HUMBLE, Texas – A Humble ISD special education teacher has been arrested and accused of injuring a non-verbal student by using improper discipline methods.
Amber Latrelle Reynolds is charged with injury to a child. Her bond has been set at $10,000.
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According to court documents, the incident happened in September 2023.
The documents say a Humble ISD police officer spoke to the principal of the elementary school, which is not named in the documents, on Sept. 28. The principal told the officer she was conducting an evaluation on Reynolds, who she said was a special education teacher at the school and taught non-verbal students. The principal said she saw Reynolds using an improper hold on a 5-year-old student the day before.
In a report filed by a separate officer, the principal told the officer the child refused to come to his designated area. The principal then saw Reynolds pull the child off the floor by his hands, lift him off the ground, and walk him to his area. The principal immediately corrected the actions of Reynolds and conducted an investigation.
The court documents said the principal learned of other improper discipline methods used by Reynolds. Reynolds allegedly admitted to the principal that she used improper discipline methods.
The documents said another employee of the school alleged that Reynolds told her that she could take the child to the bathroom to either beat or spank him. She also said Reynolds told her to thump the child on the ear if he was not doing what he was told.
On Sept. 26, the employee allegedly saw Reynolds thump the child on his ear because he was crying and did not want to do his work. The employee also said she saw Reynolds yank the child up by his arms and drag him. The employee claimed that Reynolds did this “on a daily basis.”
Another employee wrote a handwritten statement saying Reynolds told her several times she could take the child to the bathroom and beat him. The employee also said she saw Reynolds yank the child and forcefully place him on the carpet. The employee said Reynolds did this almost daily.
On Oct. 12, police met with the child’s mother, who said she saw marks on his arms on Sept. 26 after he came home from school. The mother said the marks looked like bruises and were not on the child before he went to school that day.
Humble ISD sent the following statement to KPRC 2:
“In late September, the teacher was observed using an improper hold on a student. That same day, the district received information that the teacher gave melatonin gummies to a few students. The district took immediate action by launching an investigation. Humble ISD Police presented all evidence to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. On Dec. 18, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office filed Injury to a Child, a 3rd degree felony charge. The teacher is not employed by the district. The district reported the incident to the State Board for Educator Certification. It has been officially noted on her certificate that she is under review by the TEA Investigations Division. We are appalled by the teacher’s actions. Humble ISD works with law enforcement for the safety and well being of everyone.”