Palatine police have charged a middle school teacher with misdemeanor battery for allegedly pulling out a student’s earbuds in class and throwing an electronic device, striking the student in the face.
SueEllen Patkunas, 51, of Palatine, a French teacher at Winston Campus Junior High School, was placed on administrative leave while the school district investigates the incident, Community Consolidated School District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson said in a statement to parents Friday.
Palatine police said the department’s resource officer at the junior high school was notified of a classroom disturbance shortly after noon on Monday, and arrived in the room to find that an altercation had occurred between Patkunas and the student after the student refused to remove the earbuds.
A verbal altercation escalated, and Patkunas “eventually removed the earbuds by pulling on the cord,” Palatine police said in a release. Then she reportedly threw a device at the student, who did not require medical attention.
Patkunas turned herself in to police on Friday and was released on bond, authorities said. Thompson added that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is conducting a separate investigation.
“The safety of our students is something we take very seriously,” Thompson said. “While we understand that there may be questions regarding this incident, the District is unable to share more information due to confidentiality and privacy laws that govern student and personnel matters.”
Patkunas’s court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 in the Rolling Meadows branch of the Cook County Circuit Court.
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