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Inset: Pamela Mitchell (McLennan County Sheriff’s Department). Background: The Texas elementary school where kindergarten teacher Pamela Mitchell allegedly injured a child after they broke a pencil (Google Maps).
In a troubling incident at J.H. Hines Elementary School in Waco, Texas, a kindergarten teacher has been charged with a felony following allegations of physically assaulting a young student. Pamela Mitchell, aged 64, is facing serious accusations after reportedly injuring a 5-year-old boy by forcefully manipulating his arm and using her knee to push him into a corner as a form of punishment. This incident was triggered by the child’s act of breaking a pencil.
The alleged assault took place on January 8, as detailed in reports from local CBS affiliate KWTX. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the station, the situation unfolded when Mitchell briefly left her classroom and, upon her return, was informed by a school aide that the student had broken a pencil. It was then that she allegedly confronted the child.
The affidavit provides a disturbing account of the events, alleging that Mitchell twisted the child’s arm behind his back to forcibly remove him from his chair. It further claims she used her knee to press into the boy’s back, pushing him into a corner as punishment.
The boy’s arm injury was promptly reported to the school, prompting both an internal investigation and a probe by Child Protective Services (CPS). The situation has raised significant concerns about the safety and well-being of students within the educational environment.
An arm injury that the boy allegedly suffered was reported to the school and an internal investigation was reportedly launched, as well as a CPS probe.
“During the internal school investigation and CPS investigation, the child was interviewed and told the principal that Pamela Mitchell’s actions caused the child pain,” the affidavit states, according to KWTX.
Waco Independent School District police arrested Mitchell, who started teaching at Hines in October 2025, and charged her with felony injury to a child. An ISD spokesperson told KWTX that she was no longer working for the district as of Friday.
Mitchell was reportedly working toward teacher certification and worked previously as a substitute, according to the spokesperson.
“Waco ISD is committed to the safety and well-being of every student,” the rep said. “We take every incident that risks the safety of our students seriously and investigate every report thoroughly to ensure our schools remain safe, supportive environments.”
Waco ISD told KWTX that “the student has recovered and is free from injury.” Requests by Law&Crime for comment were forwarded to district officials on Monday by a spokesperson.
“We recognize the gravity of this situation and remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the students in our care,” the district rep told KWTX.