Greenville Teacher Charged After Incident with Student
Greenville, S.C. – A former substitute teacher in Greenville County is facing serious charges following an incident where he allegedly caused harm to a student. Kevin Leroy Ester, who worked as a substitute at Rudolph Gordon School, has been charged with assault and battery in the third degree after an altercation with a 14-year-old student.
The charges were filed by the Fountain Inn Police Department on September 16, following reports of Ester’s actions on September 11. According to a message sent to parents by Principal Meredith Welch, the charges stem from an “unnecessary physical interaction” with the student.
According to the police report and arrest warrant obtained, two teachers notified the authorities about Ester’s behavior. The teachers reported that Ester had “grabbed and pulled” the student’s arms, leaving visible red marks. In another instance, he allegedly slapped the student hard on the back when the student was reluctant to return to his seat.
Further details in the report indicate that during a moment when the student hesitated to go up the stairs, Ester used physical force, twisting the student’s wrist and stating, “This is how they used to get you motivated to move.” The report notes that he applied pressure during this incident.
While Ester, who is described as a long-term substitute, has denied being forceful, the teachers expressed their concern over his methods, stating he typically remains calm and controlled.
Surveillance video from the school was reviewed, which captured Ester pulling on the student’s arm while they were both moving up the stairs and lightly punching him three times on the arm. The video reportedly supports the claims made about Ester’s interaction with the student.
The arrest warrant explicitly mentions that Ester caused “clear and obvious pain” to the student. Officials from the school district confirmed that Ester was not employed by the Greenville County School District at the time of his arrest.
As the case progresses, the community is waiting to see how this incident will affect school policies regarding teacher conduct and student safety.
