Greenwood Schools in Crisis: Former Teacher’s Aide Charged with Unlawful Conduct Towards Students

Greenwood Schools Under Scrutiny: Former Teacher’s Aide Faces Serious Charges

The quiet city of Greenwood is reeling from shocking revelations that have come to light involving a former teacher’s aide at Lakeview Elementary School. Julie Gilbert, a 43-year-old resident of Greenwood, turned herself into authorities at the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office earlier this week amid serious allegations of unlawful behavior toward students in a special needs classroom.

Allegations and Investigation

This troubling case began unfolding back in April when a Lakeview Elementary School employee contacted the sheriff’s office to report a concerning incident. Deputies reviewed surveillance footage and witnessed Gilbert engaging in what can only be described as distressing behavior. The video showed her “forcefully push, pull, and drag” a student. This wasn’t all; another clip revealed her restraining a child with her body—a method strictly reserved for situations where a child’s physical safety is genuinely jeopardized. Clearly, these weren’t the circumstances here.

The footage showed other alarming instances as well. Gilbert was caught picking a student up off a table only to drop him to the ground afterward. Other videos revealed her wrapping her legs around a student’s body and even around a student’s head and neck while he was seated, rubbing her knuckles against his head. These actions exhibited a blatant breach of conduct, sparking a thorough investigation to ensure no more students were subjected to such treatment.

Impact on Students and Further Discoveries

Officers extended their probe over the past week, continuing to scrutinize hours of classroom footage. What they found was nothing short of heartbreaking—multiple similar instances involving not just one but four different students. Parents, already aware of behavioral changes in their children, were given an opportunity to view the classroom recordings. Sadly, many had noticed their children no longer wishing to attend school and exhibiting other emotional distress symptoms.

These findings led to Gilbert facing four counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. She turned herself in around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday after speaking with her attorney the day before. Her arrest has left the community grappling with feelings of anger, betrayal, and a desperate need for reassurance regarding their children’s safety.

District and Official Responses

In response to the investigation, the school district has confirmed through a written statement that Gilbert is no longer employed by them. Director of Communications, Johnathan Graves, stated, “Please understand that this matter continues to be an ongoing investigation and our district cannot comment further on matters involving personnel. Our school district is cooperating fully with law enforcement during the investigation of this matter.”

Julie Gilbert’s Background

Julie Gilbert has a professional background that includes roles in health and human services and early intervention. According to her LinkedIn profile, she once served as a case manager for the state Department of Health and Human Services and as a teacher at The Emerald Center, where she was responsible for ensuring a safe learning environment for special needs children. Considering this background, these recent events have struck a particularly bitter chord.

Recommendations for Parents

The sheriff’s office has encouraged parents to stay vigilant and report any other troubling observations. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that such tragic lapses in behavior do not reoccur and on providing the necessary support to affected students and their families.

This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of constant vigilance and the need for a transparent and safe educational environment. The community waits anxiously for further developments as the investigation continues.