Alabama ‘teacher of the month’ charged with child abuse after pouring hot sauce on student’s tongue as punishment for sticking it out
She allegedly used the hot sauce as punishment
An award-winning Alabama special needs teacher has been arrested and charged with child abuse after she allegedly poured hot sauce onto the tongue of a student. The act was meant as a form of punishment for the student for sticking their tongue out.
Heather Varner Hunter, 46, worked as a special needs teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School, where the incident allegedly occurred back in September of this year. The school faculty member, who won a “Teacher of the Month” award back in March, was arrested on October 26 and charged with child abuse following an investigation into the incident, according to Dexerto.
Charging documents that were reported on by al.com stated that the incident with the student happened on September 15. An investigator wrote that the teacher poured a spoonful of hot sauce directly onto the unnamed student’s tongue to punish him for being “defiant” and sticking his tongue out at teachers.
Hunter was previously selected by WTVY for the Wiregrass Electric Cooperative Teacher of the Month and spoke with WTVY-FM shortly after being given the award. During her interview, she told the station that she had been teaching at Cottonwood for eight years and had been an educator for a total of 18 years, reports WTVY.
Heather Varner Hunter is no longer a teacher
Following the allegations against her, and the subsequent investigation and charges, Hunter was no longer employed at the school. “I can confirm that (Hunter) is no longer employed by the Houston County School System,” superintendent Brandy White told WTVY. However, Hunter is facing more than losing her job; she is facing legal repercussions for the incident too.
The superintendent also said that all information regarding the teacher and the incident had been turned over to the Alabama Department of Human Resources. He added that the school system was fully cooperating with the authorities in the matter.
According to findlaw.com, any parent, guardian, or person responsible for the supervision of a child could be convicted of a class C felony under Alabama Code § 26-15-3. If found guilty, the individual could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as per huntsvilledefenselawyer.com, as well as a possible fine of up to $15,000.
The former teacher was booked into the Houston County jail on Monday morning but was later released on the same day after she posted the $2,500 bond. Hunter has not yet publicly commented on the incident.
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