Middle-schooler says teacher pushed her

LA MARQUE — A teacher at La Marque Independent School District has been placed on administrative leave while the district’s police department looks into an allegation the teacher assaulted a middle school student.

The incident happened Monday, school district’s spokeswoman Margret Simon said.

“From my understanding, the teacher stated that the student was in her space,” Simon said. “The teacher removed the child from her space, and the child said that the teacher pushed her.”

The teacher is on leave with pay, she said. Simon said the school district is conducting the investigation.

In a news release, the school district said the mother of the alleged victim contacted school district police Chief Timothy Fields.

The matter was undergoing a thorough investigation, and statements had been taken from the student and teacher, Fields said in the release.

“This is a serious allegation,” school district Superintendent Ecomet Burley said. “This district takes the safety and security of students very seriously.”