The families of seven autistic students who were abused by their teacher in a northeastern Pennsylvania classroom have agreed to a $5 million settlement of their federal lawsuit.
Former special education teacher Susan Wzorek pleaded no contest to reckless endangerment and spent six weeks in prison in 2005 after prosecutors alleged she subjected her students to a range of abuse, from hitting them, pulling their hair and stomping on their feet to strapping them to chairs with duct tape and bungee cords.
"Her teaching tools were fear, intimidation and physical assault," said the plaintiffs' attorney, Larry Moran.
The students were between 5 and 11 years old at the time of the abuse. Their families filed a federal lawsuit against Wzorek and her superiors, alleging they knew about the abuse but took steps to cover it up.
The settlement, which U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo approved Thursday night, does not require the defendants to admit wrongdoing.
Wzorek worked at Clarks Summit Elementary School in the Abington Heights School District but was employed by Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19, an education agency that provides services to public school districts in the area.
"We believe that the (education agency) acted promptly and appropriately under the circumstances. Nevertheless, settlement is best for all concerned," said John Freund III, who represented some of the defendants.
Wzorek's criminal attorney has said she never intentionally harmed any student and alleged that she was not provided with adequate training, guidance or support.
At issue was Wzorek's conduct from 2001 to 2003, when, the suit said, she regularly used abusive and illegal techniques to discipline her students.
Wzorek, who worked with disabled students for decades, was stripped of her state teaching certification following her arrest.
View attachment 430
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wirestory?id=10770887&page=2
Add her to my list of people who should be beaten with a baseball bat and strung up for all to see.
Former special education teacher Susan Wzorek pleaded no contest to reckless endangerment and spent six weeks in prison in 2005 after prosecutors alleged she subjected her students to a range of abuse, from hitting them, pulling their hair and stomping on their feet to strapping them to chairs with duct tape and bungee cords.
"Her teaching tools were fear, intimidation and physical assault," said the plaintiffs' attorney, Larry Moran.
The students were between 5 and 11 years old at the time of the abuse. Their families filed a federal lawsuit against Wzorek and her superiors, alleging they knew about the abuse but took steps to cover it up.
The settlement, which U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo approved Thursday night, does not require the defendants to admit wrongdoing.
Wzorek worked at Clarks Summit Elementary School in the Abington Heights School District but was employed by Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19, an education agency that provides services to public school districts in the area.
"We believe that the (education agency) acted promptly and appropriately under the circumstances. Nevertheless, settlement is best for all concerned," said John Freund III, who represented some of the defendants.
Wzorek's criminal attorney has said she never intentionally harmed any student and alleged that she was not provided with adequate training, guidance or support.
At issue was Wzorek's conduct from 2001 to 2003, when, the suit said, she regularly used abusive and illegal techniques to discipline her students.
Wzorek, who worked with disabled students for decades, was stripped of her state teaching certification following her arrest.
View attachment 430
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wirestory?id=10770887&page=2
Add her to my list of people who should be beaten with a baseball bat and strung up for all to see.
