Teacher duct tapes students’ mouths at Texas elementary school

A substitute teacher was barred from a Texas elementary school after students reported that the educator put duct tape over their mouths.

Carmello Brooks, a fifth grader at Maxdale Elementary School, told his mother he ripped the first strip of duct tape off his face, only to have the substitute return and put another over his mouth, the Killeen Daily Herald reported.

He said he and 12 other students sat with their mouths covered for at least 15 minutes.

During class Thursday at the Killeen school, the substitute — whose name was not released — allegedly duct taped the mouths of 10 students and ordered three others to do it themselves, according to a news release from the Killeen Independent School District.

A teacher across the hallway heard the commotion coming from the classroom and went to check in on the children.

All of the students involved were taken to the nurse's office as soon as school officials learned of the incident. They were uninjured and able to return to class the same day, school district spokesmen Terry Abott told KWTX.

He also noted the substitute teacher was immediately removed from the classroom “as a result of this outrageous and unconscionable behavior.”

School officials notified Child Protective Services regarding the incident and the district has said it will support law enforcement in any additional investigation necessary, according to the news station.

The district in a statement also said parents were notified.

“The leadership of Maxdale Elementary SChool and the Killeen Independent School District are deeply saddened by this event,” the statement reads. “The principal has informed parents, and has reassured parents that the staff will continue to work hard to make sure every child at the campus is absolutely safe every day.”