On a peaceful Tuesday morning in an otherwise quiet Texas town, what should have been a sanctuary of safety and learning became the site of an immensely troubling incident. Within Millsap Elementary School, an autistic, non-verbal boy who was just 10 years old, Alex Cornelius, was abused at the hands of those who were entrusted with his care.
The incident occurred on February 18 and had been recorded on a classroom video later posted by one of the former assistant teachers. It showed us a chilling sequence: special education teacher Jennifer Dale striking Alex, then paraprofessional Paxton Bean yelling at him, slapping him in the face with a toy, then throwing it at the cowering child.
The footage, later circulated on social media, appalled the neighborhood and sparked outrage across the nation. Most tragic in this case is how long it would be before Alex’s family would be informed.
“I received the call on March 10th,”
stated Alex’s mother, Carissa Cornelius.
“I was outraged. It was heartbreaking. I was angry. I genuinely could not accept it.”
For close to three weeks following the ordeal, Carissa had no knowledge of what had happened to her son. Alex, who is non-verbal, could not inform his parents about the abuse.
“He could not speak for himself. And knowing this occurred, and he had no means of telling us—it shatters me,”
she cried, breaking down in tears.
The emotional damage has been considerable. She talked about how Alex, previously so enthusiastic about school, shudders at the thought of attending it now.
“He wanted to go. He enjoyed it, he just enjoyed it, and they took that away from him.”
With mounting outrage in the public, the officials faced increasing pressure as well. Both Bean and Dale were quickly arrested and charged with official oppression shortly after the release of the video. Bean is charged with an additional charge of injury to a child. Dale turned herself in at the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office, as indicated in bond records, and was released on $2,500 bond.
In an unexpected turn of events, the backlash spilled over outside of the classroom. Millsap Independent School District (MISD) Superintendent Mari “Edie” Martin was arrested on counts of Failure to Report and Intent to Conceal—serious allegations hinting at an effort to conceal the truth
MISD immediately put Dale and Bean on administrative leave as soon as the allegations were made. Both have since been fired. Both the school’s administrator and the assistant administrator were sent on leave, too, and an outside investigator made an extensive review on the district’s behalf. Local law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the State Board for Educator Certification were issued reports.
Nevertheless, the public is left wondering how this kind of abuse is possible—despite being in a classroom intended for students who have special needs.
Court papers suggest that Alex might not have been the sole victim. There are reports of at least two other youngsters who were mistreated. The extent of the abuse—and that for so long no one paid attention—speaks to a disturbing failure at several levels.
Reps. Mike Olcott, who is the representative for District 60, spoke out with great concern about the incident.
“What occurred in that classroom is unconscionable,”
Olcott stated.
“We entrust teachers, in particular, with our most vulnerable learners. We feel betrayed in this particular case.”
The incident has renewed criticisms regarding school openness and the safety of students who are disabled. Parents and activists are demanding compulsory cameras in special education classrooms. In the case of Alex, it was camera footage that led at last to the disclosure of the abuse—the evidence of the necessity of monitoring in maintaining accountability.
For the Cornelius family, the journey towards healing is a long one. But they’re committed to letting something positive result from this nightmare.
“We are not going to be deterred,”
she said.
“If there had been cameras that were accessible starting on day one, perhaps this would not have occurred—or at least it would have come out earlier. We would like that for all the families.”
She is currently working with local advocacy groups in order to advance legislation that would mandate video monitoring in every special needs classroom in Texas. For Alex, his reality is different now. What had previously been his haven is now his fear.
“He flinches if people get too close to him,”
Carissa related.
“They hurt him, but they also took his trust away.”