District 62 officials were made aware of the alleged incidents at North Elementary School on January 11 and immediately notified the Des Plaines Police Department school resource officer.
"It bothers me to the soul, and it is not acceptable," said Superintendent Michael Amadei for Community Consolidated School District 62.
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During an investigation, officials said it was revealed that a 7-year-old boy, two 7-year-old girls and an 8-year-old girl claim their teacher, 44-year-old Lai Ying T. Escobedo, of Palatine, made physical contact with them by pulling their ears, striking them in the head with a folder or closed fist, and pushing their heads towards the tables they sit at. None of the children were seriously injured, officials added.
"The allegations were that she was directing children assertively, that she might've hit a child with a folder, or hit someone on top of their head," Supt. Amadei said.
The incidents allegedly occurred between December 21, 2022 and January 11, 2023, according to police.
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Escobedo was immediately removed from her duties pending further investigation and she has been charged with four counts of misdemeanor battery, police said.
"We are appreciative of the kids coming forward. We are appreciative of the district jumping on it as quickly as they did," said Cmdr. Matt Bowler, with the Des Plaines Police Dept.
"We have done everything we can to make sure that we've handled this as expediently as we can, and I just want us to move forward as a district and let parents know that we want them to have their children in the safest schools," Supt. Amadei added.
She is expected in court April 3 at 9 a.m. at the Skokie Court House.