A teacher's thumb was bitten and partially severed after an incident involving a student at the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 Central Education Center in Manheim, police confirmed. The incident occurred on the morning of April 18, 2024.
According to a statement by Manheim Borough Police, the student bit the teacher's thumb off completely, with the police saying it was a serious injury. The student has been identified as a juvenile from the IU13 Early Childhood and Special Education Services in Manheim. The teacher, whose identity was not disclosed, was transferred to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The school staff, including the communications director, Shannan Guthrie, and the executive director, Matt Stern, responded promptly to the reported assault on a teacher who resulted in serious injury. Local first responders were called to the scene to assist in the aftermath of the incident. Due to the age of the student, the school is not providing any further details.
"Our teachers and paraprofessionals are everyday heroes who work with children who have very significant needs," said Stern. "They are selfless with a desire to change young lives and they should be celebrated for all they do."
The school had dedicated staff members who worked hard every day to serve students, and the number one focus right now is to support the staff and students while continuing to ensure the safety for all. The school also extended its appreciation to the local first responders and staff for handling the situation with professionalism and care.
The incident comes as schools across the country are grappling with how to handle student behavior and safety concerns. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases involving injuries to teachers and other employees at schools across the nation.
In response to these incidents, some schools have implemented new policies and procedures to enhance safety and prevent similar occurrences. For example, some schools have installed secure entryways and improved lighting to make them less accessible to students. Other schools have increased presence of school resource officers and brought in additional security personnel to monitor school grounds.
But the question remains whether these measures are enough to ensure the safety of all individuals in school settings. It's a challenge that many schools are facing as they strive to balance the need for a safe and nurturing learning environment with the reality of student behavior and safety concerns.
In the wake of Wednesday's incident, school leadership and officials are likely to be reviewing their safety protocols and looking for ways to improve upon them. They may also be discussing how to better communicate with students and their families about expectations for behavior and how to address any issues that arise.
It's also possible that the community may hear more about the incident in the coming days and weeks as school officials provide updates to parents and the media. But whatever the case may be, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in our schools and the need for schools to take concrete steps to protect their students and employees.
Finally, we hope for a swift recovery for the teacher who was injured and for the student who caused the injury to be held accountable for their actions. We trust that local law enforcement and school administration will continue to strive for a safer learning environment for all students and employees in the future.
