Mother files lawsuit saying Carver Elementary student permanently scarred by teacher aide

A parent suing Des Moines Public School says her child was physically abused by their assigned teaching aide last fall.

Tereasa Washington is suing former DMPS early childhood associate Mia Williams, as well as teacher Nicole Collins, Carver Community School Principal Jill Burnett Requist, and other district leaders. Washington's son, described as "special needs" in the complaint, was 4 years old and receiving special education services, including support services from Williams, when they were injured.

The complaint, filed last month, alleges that Williams "assaulted" the child during school on Nov. 2, resulting in "multiple lacerations to (the child's) skull." Although the attack took place in the morning, the mother says she was only told after lunch that her child had "a scratch," and only as she was on the way to collect her child did Requist call to tell her the "scratch" was "bad."

"When pressed, Renquist admitted to plaintiff that in her role as principal, Renquist had instructed her staff to keep plaintiff in the dark," Washington claims.

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The child ultimately required emergency medical care and has permanent scars on their head, face and neck, according to the complaint. Washington alleges the attack also damaged her son's "emotional stability and childhood development," in part because the assailant was someone he trusted.

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According to Washington, this wasn't the first issue with Williams. In fact, she alleges that Collins, her son's teacher, said in a meeting days before the attack that "I don't like how sometimes Ms. Williams is aggressive" with the boy.

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Despite this, she alleges, neither Collins nor any of her administrators took action to protect her son or provide additional training or supervision for Williams.

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District spokesman Phil Roeder declined to comment on pending litigation but confirmed there was a police report made, and Williams was placed on leave. Police declined to file charges, Roeder said, but Williams resigned before the district's investigation could get underway.

She'd been hired in August 2023, he said. Collins and Requist remain in their positions as teacher and principal, Roeder said.

The district has not filed an answer in court, and no attorneys are listed for any of the defendants.

Al Parrish, an attorney for the family, confirmed they had reviewed the Des Moines Police Department report and otherwise declined to comment on the suit.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166 .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Mother files lawsuit saying Carver Elementary student permanently scarred by teacher aide