HOUSTON – A school employee is accused of kicking a kindergartner in the face and leaving him with bruises.
The student attends Golfcrest Elementary School on Houston's southeast side. His mother is angered by what she claims that faculty member did to her son.
"I was crying, I was nervous, I was mad," said the child's mother.
She said her 5-year-old, whose identity Local 2 is concealing, was on the playground when he brushed the faculty member's leg. That's when the boy says the faculty member lifted his foot and kicked him in the face.
"The only thing I want is the (employee) never working in any school," the mother said.
At this point, the faculty member does not face criminal charges. In a picture of the boy, you can see slight bruising. The boy's mother and aunt took him to a doctor and they have paperwork that says he suffered a facial injury.
"My sister and me, all we want is the truth. Exactly what happened. Why the (employee) hit my nephew," said the child's aunt.
The Houston Independent School District acknowledges it is investigating the incident. In the meantime, the faculty member has been temporarily reassigned.
The faculty member's lawyer sent Local 2 a statement saying no such incident occurred. The faculty member is cooperating with the district and looks forward to a favorable resolution and the remainder of a successful school year.
"We have all the proof right here," the aunt said.
The boy's family said they just want answers. They say he's now having bad dreams and doesn't want to return to school.
"He's crying at night. He says he's waking in the night. He says, 'Mom, mom, mom. The (employee) hit me with the shoes. He hit me with the shoes," said the aunt.
The family said at the very least they would like an apology from the faculty member in question.