{"id":645833,"date":"2026-03-10T15:25:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T15:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/645833\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T15:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T15:25:13","slug":"retired-san-antonio-teachers-injured-by-students-discuss-issues-solutions-for-classroom-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/645833\/","title":{"rendered":"Retired San Antonio teachers injured by students discuss issues, solutions for classroom violence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 It is a dangerous and complex lesson being taught in schools across the country: teachers and other school staff members are being hurt by students.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Two years ago, Northside Independent School District instructional aide Alfred Jimenez died after he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2024\/02\/19\/instructional-assistant-dies-from-serious-injury-by-student-in-classroom-at-brandeis-high-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">hurt while redirecting a student with intellectual disabilities<\/a>, according to the district.<\/p>\n<p>KSAT Investigates<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kiwhtN\">Hard-hitting journalism from the KSAT Investigates team delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">As part of KSAT\u2019s ongoing coverage, KSAT Investigates\u2019 Daniela Ibarra spoke with three retired educators about the issue and the solutions they believe would improve safety for everyone in the classroom.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Jesusita Rios, retired educator with 38 years of experience<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>David Costello, retired educator with 34 years of experience<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Oralia Lara Vargas, retired special education teacher with 33 years of experience<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">All three teachers told KSAT Investigates they had been injured by students while working in the classroom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI\u2019ve been scratched, you know, I\u2019ve been pushed, but I\u2019ve never been seriously injured,\u201d Costello said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The group, which worked at Edgewood Independent School District, said they wanted to discuss violence in the classroom because they know not all educators are at liberty to talk about the issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI feel there\u2019s a need to really have conversations about this,\u201d Rios said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">All three educators had heard about what happened to Jimenez, which they described as a worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThere\u2019s been so many other issues of aggressive behavior,\u201d Lara-Vargas said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Rios said that educators \u201cneed the support, especially when you\u2019re in the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">When it comes to the students, the educators said school staff members need to learn how to understand them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI don\u2019t think enough emphasis is being placed on behavior intervention, on getting to know the child himself,\u201d Lara-Vargas said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cBehavior is defined as a form of communication,\u201d Castillo said. \u201cA child acts out, or a child doesn\u2019t know how to tell somebody they\u2019re upset or they\u2019re not learning, well, the only other way they do it is through their own behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Castillo added that a child could become physical or emotional when trying to express themselves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIt can be harming themselves or harming somebody else in the process,\u201d Castillo said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The retired teachers said there needs to be solutions to help keep people safe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIt has to be training of behavior,\u201d Lara-Vargas said. \u201cIf we can spend as much time on disability awareness or &#8230; fill in the blank awareness and behavior intervention, I truly believe that the curriculum will just come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">KSAT Investigates asked the group what, if anything, districts and the state could do to help.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cTraining is a definite yes,\u201d Lara-Vargas said. \u201cBut it has to be open.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Castillo added that \u201cfunding is something that we have to really have to look at at the state level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tell us your story<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">KSAT Investigates reporter Daniela Ibarra is not done investigating violence against teachers in the classroom, and she <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/ijCyfgdYe9DgNhuA7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">needs your help<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">If you\u2019ve experienced violence in the classroom or if you\u2019re the parent of a student who has injured a teacher and want to share your story, we want to hear from you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">You can share your story and any photos or videos of the injuries or aftermath by <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/ijCyfgdYe9DgNhuA7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">filling out this form<\/a> or by emailing Ibarra at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/ksat-investigates\/2026\/03\/10\/retired-san-antonio-teachers-injured-by-students-discuss-issues-solutions-for-classroom-violence\/mailto:dibarra@ksat.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dibarra@ksat.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Daniela is an IRE 2025 Chauncey Bailey Investigative Reporting Fellow. This story is part of her yearlong project focusing on teacher injuries by students.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Read more reporting on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/ksat-investigates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">KSAT Investigates page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN ANTONIO \u2013 It is a dangerous and complex lesson being taught in schools across the country: teachers&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":645834,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5133],"tags":[274548,5229,274547,93116,407,31872,21879,7202,7203,274549,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-645833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-alfred-jimenez","tag-america","tag-dangerous-lessons","tag-edgewood-isd","tag-education","tag-ksat-investigates","tag-northside-isd","tag-san-antonio","tag-sanantonio","tag-teacher-injuries","tag-texas","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116205579435942173","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=645833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/645834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=645833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=645833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=645833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}