Vermont Teacher Accused of Assaulting Student

(Richford, Vermont) A 54-year-old teacher at Richford Elementary School, Ann Lavery, has been accused of physically assaulting a 10-year-old fifth-grade student.

Lavery, a 32-year teaching veteran, faces two counts of simple assault.

Police said the parent of a fifth grade student alleges her daughter's neck was grabbed by Lavery on Sept. 11 because the student did not have permission to be in an area of the school where other students were. The parent provided a photograph of the student's alleged neck injury, police said.

A second complaint by the same parent alleges that Lavery, who was teaching a math class, emptied a small plastic bucket of learning aides, then placed the bucket on the 10-year-old's head and struck the bucket, injuring the student and damaging her glasses.

Lavery is scheduled for a court appearance in Vermont District Court on October 6th.