A Hampton Cove Middle School special education teacher is under internal review after parents voiced concern over a past conviction for assaulting a student.
Brandy Taylor was convicted for the 2017 assault and served 30 days in jail for the abuse of a student at Albertville High School.
WAAY reported Taylor punched, hit and bit the victim on the face before picking up the child and beating the student with a belt. At the time, Taylor was facing another charge for reportedly spraying pepper spray in her husband's face during a ball tournament. Her husband told the court he feared she would "use a gun and kill" him.
According to Huntsville City Schools, Taylor teaches grades 6-8.
"I have taught in the area of Collaborative Education for 24 years, in both the collaborative classroom setting and inclusive classroom setting, at both the elementary and high school levels," Taylor stated in her bio. "Each school year is different with many challenges and we are all working together continuously learning new things. I am looking forward to a school year full of learning working with the students, parents, faculty and staff at Hampton Cove Middle School. I am from Guntersville, Alabama I love spending time on the lake, reading and traveling with my two children."
Hampton Cove Middle School Principal Kris Martinez released a statement confirming Taylor is not allowed to have contact with students during the review.
“The employee joined the district in 2020 and passed the required Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) background check as part of the hiring process,” Martinez stated in part. "Out of an abundance of caution, the employee will not be present on the Hampton Cove campus or any other HCS campus during the course of an internal personnel review. The employee will not have any contact with students during this time.”
A substitute teacher will be assigned to Taylor’s position while the matter is resolved.
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