Board of education in Tennessee fires elementary school administrator for dragging an autistic child

By Samantha Allen

Published: May 28, 2022 | 9:34 AM GMT

Two and a half years after footage emerged of her dragging a special education student through the school, the principal of a Tennessee primary school was dismissed.

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

On November 4, 2019, the anonymous kid failed to comply with a request from Campbell, according to Rutherford County Director of Schools Bill Spurlock.

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.

The charges were eventually dismissed by a judge. Campbell and Marlar were suspended, and no decision has been made about Marlar’s future with the school.

Spurlock has accused Campbell of attempting to destroy evidence, saying she tried to delete security footage from the school’s cameras.

Campbell pled no contest to the charge and was given probation for a misdemeanor charge.

She issued the same plea, guaranteeing a conviction but not admitting guilt, to a neglect charge.

At a Thursday night board of education meeting, stills from that security video showed Campbell pulling the child by his arm from a chair, grabbing him by his belt and dragging him by the wrists.

Then, they are shown grabbing the boy’s ankles and dragging him to the back of the school. They dragged him a total of 570 feet.

One school member, Tammy Sharp, argued on Campbell’s behalf, saying she was ‘phenomenal’ at her job and said that she’s being convicted by a court of public opinion.

‘Not one of us on this board have spoken to Miss Campbell. We don’t know the background of this student, we don’t know what his issues were,’ Sharp said. ‘I think its disgusting and I’m sure our teachers that deal with problems like this every day have a chill down their back today and they’re looking for more jobs.’

A special needs student administrator for the school district spoke during the meeting

‘I have seen the video from beginning to end. I did not see any behavior that constitutes emergency behavior, dragging the student from the front to the back of the building to the common room, almost two football fields is not a CPI technique and is not proper restraint.’

Campbell’s termination was eventually approved by a 5-2 vote. She can appeal the decision.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.