Accused aide speaks at abuse hearing

An aide investigated by Child Protective Services following abuse allegations at Arden Road Elementary School has appealed her termination from the school, according to testimony in a hearing Friday at Canyon Independent School District.

Edith Lewter was fired after claims emerged that she had dragged a special education student - Dillon Wade, 7 - to a small room near the school's cafeteria on Sept. 12.

During testimony, Lewter said she had used the room about 15 times since last school year.

School district officials estimate the room, which is sometimes used for storage, is about 5 feet by 10 feet. The room has a partial wall that separates it from a larger kitchen area, administrators said.

Lewter said she would take Dillon to the room when he would ask to go to "the dark room" during lunch.

"He would not resist me or tell me no," she said.

Lewter said she thinks Principal Christopher Norton and Karen Dabney, a special education teacher, were aware she was placing Dillon in the room before the incident.

School staff also placed another student there, she said.

Lewter said she told Dabney about her use of the room when the teacher heard Dillon ask to go to "the dark room" during lunch.

The practice also appeared on data sheets submitted to Norton in early September, Lewter said.

Norton said, however, he first found out that the room was used after the Sept. 12 incident.

In August, Dillon's parents, Shane and Rachael Wade, put in a transfer request for their son, Norton said, as he described a tense relationship between the parents and school staff.

A teacher expressed concerns that the Wades would stay in their child's classroom up to a half-hour after bringing Dillon to school, and at one point, Shane Wade got a snack for another student.

The parents have said during testimony that their visits were driven by worry for Dillon after another student had bitten him.

Four complaints were made against Lewter by school staff while she worked at Arden Road, Norton said.

In March, Dabney reported that Lewter twisted Dillon's arm behind his back and spoke harshly to him, according to hearing evidence.

A former aide at the school, Leah Johnson, testified Wednesday that she had reported seeing Lewter slap Dillon's hand. Norton didn't share that complaint with the Wades, he said.

"There was nothing to report," he said. "I don't believe it happened the way she said it happened."

Lewter was eventually fired for not following district policy to request assistance when having difficulty with a child and for not following restraining guidelines, Norton said.

Shane Wade said he was concerned about Lewter carrying his son by the armpits because of the shunts under his arms.

"I don't believe damage was done, but I believe it could have been, and it would have required major surgery," he said.

A ruling in the due process hearing is expected in February.

"Through the abuse of my son, I found out how severely lacking his education was, and I hope the school district makes that right," Rachael Wade said.

Dillon remains in Canyon ISD and transferred to Reeves-Hinger Elementary school in late September.

According to testimony, CPS investigated the incident in September and ruled that no abuse took place. The Wades have appealed that finding.