Marshall, Texas — A Texas teacher is facing criminal charges after authorities say she violently abused a 5-year-old student during rest time at an elementary school, allegedly swinging the child upside down by her feet before dropping her on her head in front of classmates.
The disturbing incident reportedly happened on May 14 at Marshall Early Childhood Center in Harrison County, leaving school employees and investigators shocked by the allegations.
Teacher Accused of Assaulting Child During Rest Time
According to a criminal complaint, 37-year-old Rachel Kirspel became upset after the young student allegedly refused to settle down during nap time activities inside the classroom.
Police say the teacher responded in an aggressive and dangerous manner.
“The defendant had hung a 5-year-old student upside down by her feet and had swung her side-to-side and then pulled up and down,” the criminal complaint states. “As a result of the defendant’s actions, the student hit her head causing pain to her head.”
Authorities said the alleged assault happened in front of the victim’s classmates and at least one other school employee.
Witness Says Children Were Screaming
One employee who witnessed the incident told investigators she was outside the classroom organizing student backpacks when she allegedly heard Kirspel insulting the child.
“You are ugly as hell,” Kirspel allegedly said, followed by: “You can tell your mama didn’t raise you right.”
Moments later, the employee said she heard children screaming from inside the room and rushed to see what was happening.
According to the complaint, the witness saw Kirspel “holding [the victim] upside down by her feet and swinging her side to side and up and down.”
The employee reportedly shouted at the teacher, asking what she was doing, prompting Kirspel to place the child back upright.
Child Told Teacher She Was “Not OK”
After the incident, Kirspel allegedly asked the crying child if she was OK.
The victim reportedly responded by telling the teacher to put her down and saying “no she was not OK,” according to investigators.
The witness then instructed Kirspel to leave the room because the child was “screaming and crying.”
Police later interviewed Kirspel, who admitted the incident began because the child was allegedly being disruptive during rest time.
According to investigators, Kirspel said she first tried placing the child over her shoulder after the student continued playing instead of lying on the sleeping mat.
“The defendant then stated that [the victim] laid down but decided to play around, so the defendant grabbed her off her mat and put her over her shoulder,” the complaint states.
Kirspel allegedly admitted that when this did not work, she turned the child upside down.
Young Victim Describes Incident
The 5-year-old later described the frightening ordeal to school administrators and forensic specialists.
“My head was down and my feet was up,” the child reportedly said while explaining what happened.
According to investigators, the child later added that the teacher pulled away her nap mat, grabbed her by the shirt collar and then picked her up by her feet before swinging her around.
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The child also stated that her arm and head hurt afterward and confirmed the teacher had called her “ugly.”
Investigators further said the child reported Kirspel told her she would not be allowed to return to school because “it is not safe.”
Teacher Fired and Arrested
Following the allegations, the Marshall Independent School District immediately removed Kirspel from the classroom.
“Upon notice of the incident, Marshall ISD first ensured the student’s well-being and safety. The aide was immediately removed without the ability to return, was investigated, and terminated,” the district said in a statement.
Kirspel was later arrested and charged with injury to a child. She was booked into the Harrison County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
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