Lawsuit claims KY teacher ‘verbally abusive, physically aggressive’ with disabled students

The parents of eight special needs students filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Ashland against a Raceland-Worthington Independent special education teacher alleging she was “verbally abusive and physically aggressive with the students.”

The students’ names are protected for privacy in the lawsuit, which names teacher Erin Horn and the school district.

Superintendent Larry Coldiron told the Herald-Leader Wednesday in an interview that a district investigation into the allegations in the lawsuit revealed no problems and the teacher was still in the classroom.

“Raceland-Worthington Independent School District is aware of a lawsuit filed against the District and a school employee,” Coldiron said in a statement.

“The District has taken these allegations very seriously and have worked to investigate these claims,” the statement said. “We will continue to make the safety of our students and staff a priority throughout this process. Because of the pending litigation, the District cannot comment on specific allegations asserted in the complaint.”

The action seeks relief for violations of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The lawsuit alleged Horn failed to provide a specified amount of therapy and services and would yell at, be verbally abusive and physically aggressive with students in a way that would have violated their individual education plans and cause severe physical and emotional injuries to the children.

The lawsuit claims Horn’s actions caused regression in some students and she and her staff “at her direction caused bruising to some of the students.” The lawsuit alleges Horn punished the students inappropriately by taking away recess and “caused so much damage” to some students that they had to be taken out of the school district.

The lawsuit is asking for costs, attorneys fees and a jury trial.

This story was originally published February 7, 2024 at 4:18 PM.