A Jefferson County high school teacher faces felony criminal charges after authorities say she manhandled a special education student in the classroom.
Hueytown police obtained a warrant Oct. 22 against Lisa Brown Edmonson. Edmonson is charged with aggravated child abuse with serious injury, Chief Chuck Hagler confirmed today. He said he couldn't elaborate on the accusations against Edmonson, and said the investigation is ongoing.
Edmondson was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Friday at 11:32 a.m., according to jail records. She was released at 12:51 p.m. the same day after posting bond, which was set at $30,000.
Efforts to reach Edmonson and High School officials were unsuccessful, but Jefferson County Superintendent Craig Pouncey issued a statement late this afternoon saying Edmonson was placed on indefinite administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation into allegations of "improper classroom conduct."
Pouncey said school officials are cooperating with law enforcement and other governmental agencies in their separate investigations. The superintendent said he's asked the school board's attorneys and human resources staff to complete their reviewe as quicly as possible so that appropriate personnel decisions can be made without undue delay.
According to the school website, Edmonson obtained a bachelor's degree from Auburn University in early childhood education for the handicapped . This is her 28th year teaching in the field of special education, according to her school biography. Of those, 26 years have been spent teaching in multi-disabilities.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
Updated at 4:29 p.m. to include a statement from Superintendent Craig Pouncey.