Teacher accused of putting hot sauce on crayons (WFTV) |
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (KTLA) -- A special needs teacher in Florida could lose her job for allegedly using hot sauce to keep students in line.
Authorities say Lillian Gomez used hot sauce on autistic children at Sunrise Elementary in Kissimmee, Florida.
Local station WFTV reports that Gomez poured the hot sauce on the children's crayons to keep them from putting the crayons in their mouths.
One woman told WFTV that two of the children were her five-year-old nephews.
"I was just shocked and confused," Karina Holguin said.
"They gotta be traumatized, especially for a kid who can't express himself," she added.
The family says that after the teacher doused the crayons in hot sauce, the boys refused to touch them for weeks.
When district officials found out, the teacher was removed from the classroom.
Gomez has now been suspended, and the superintendent is now requesting that she be fired.
A termination hearing for Gomez is set for later this month.
Authorities say Lillian Gomez used hot sauce on autistic children at Sunrise Elementary in Kissimmee, Florida.
Local station WFTV reports that Gomez poured the hot sauce on the children's crayons to keep them from putting the crayons in their mouths.
One woman told WFTV that two of the children were her five-year-old nephews.
"I was just shocked and confused," Karina Holguin said.
"They gotta be traumatized, especially for a kid who can't express himself," she added.
The family says that after the teacher doused the crayons in hot sauce, the boys refused to touch them for weeks.
When district officials found out, the teacher was removed from the classroom.
Gomez has now been suspended, and the superintendent is now requesting that she be fired.
A termination hearing for Gomez is set for later this month.
