Tennessee elementary school principal is fired by board for dragging autistic boy, 11, by his feet through school hallways with help of teacher after he misbehaved

  • Helen Campbell was fired for ‘unprofessional conduct, conduct unbecoming, insubordination, and neglect of duty’ from Walter Hill Elementary 
  • Rutherford County Director of Schools Bill Spurlock said that on November 4, 2019, the student failed to comply to a request from Campbell 
  • She then grabbed the student by the ankles and dragged him through the school’s hallway 
  • The child sustained minor injuries. Both Campbell and teacher Bonnie Marlar had child abuse charges filed against them
  • The charges were eventually dismissed by a judge. Campbell and Marlar were suspended and no decision has been made about Marlar’s status
  • Campbell’s termination was eventually approved by a 5-2 vote, with one board member critical of the decision. She can appeal the decision 

The principal of a Tennessee elementary school has been fired two and a half years after video emerged of her dragging a special education student through the school.

Helen Campbell was fired for ‘unprofessional conduct, conduct unbecoming, insubordination, and neglect of duty’ from Walter Hill Elementary in Murfreesboro Thursday. 

Rutherford County Director of Schools Bill Spurlock said that on November 4, 2019, the unnamed student failed to comply to a request from Campbell.

She then grabbed the student by the ankles and dragged him through the school’s hallway for 570 feet, equivalent to the length of two football fields. 

The child sustained minor injuries. Both Campbell and teacher Bonnie Marlar had child abuse charges filed against them after Marlar helped drag the youngster.