Corsicana, Texas – An incident at Collins Intermediate School in Corsicana, Texas, has left staff members injured due to violent encounters with students. The most recent incident involved a paraprofessional named Carol Tidwell who sustained a broken wrist while inside a classroom for students with behavioral challenges. Tidwell dodged a chair thrown at her by a student, causing her to trip and fall, resulting in a broken wrist.
Tidwell, 57, recounted the moment she saw the chair coming towards her, prompting her to warn others in the room. Following the incident, an on-campus nurse examined Tidwell before she was taken to a local hospital where X-rays confirmed her broken wrist. The Corsicana Independent School District confirmed the attack, stating that video footage captured Tidwell’s injury as she tried to avoid the flying chair. Despite the incident, the school did not go into lockdown, and classes resumed promptly.
This is not the first violent attack involving a staff member at Collins Intermediate School. Assistant Principal Casandra Rogers was left blind after being hit in the eye with a hanger by a student during a behavioral class altercation. Rogers forgave the student responsible for the attack but expressed anger towards the student’s parents and the education system. She underwent surgery to try to save her eye but ultimately had it removed in January.
Both Tidwell and Rogers have called for action to ensure the safety of staff members within the school district. Tidwell emphasized the need for support for special needs students, while Rogers highlighted the importance of creating safer environments in designated classrooms. The incidents have raised concerns about the protection of school employees in potentially violent situations and the long-term effects of such attacks on staff members. As educators continue to navigate challenging behaviors in the classroom, the conversation around ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all remains a top priority.