Teacher Accused of Assaulting Student Who Refused to Stand for Pledge

A middle school physical education teacher at Colorado’s Boulder Valley School district has been accused of assaulting a student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, said the school district on Thursday.

Karen Smith, a teacher at Angevine Middle School in Lafayette, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

Mike Medina, the school’s principal, sent a letter home to parents on Thursday about the incident, CBS Denver reports.

“While I cannot share much information, following an incident today at school, Ms. Smith was placed on paid administrative leave,” Medina writes. “We believe in due process and therefore ask that everyone respect Ms. Smith’s privacy at this time.”

According to the Boulder Valley School District spokesman Randy Barber, students are allowed to sit or stand during the pledge.

Barber did not go into further detail due to the fact the investigation is ongoing.

No charges have been filed.