Lawsuit accuses Southern California teacher, school district of mistreating special needs students

After a troubling video captured the alleged mistreatment of special needs students at an Orange County elementary school, 11 families are now suing the district over the misconduct.

The video, which was captured on a student’s tablet during class at Carver Elementary School in Santa Ana, shows the female teacher yelling and mocking the young children.

“When I first saw it, I was shocked,” said Alma Moreno, a parent of a special needs child at the school. “I was heartbroken. I couldn’t believe it.”

Moreno’s daughter has autism and spends her days in a classroom with other special needs students. Moreno, like all parents, said she trusted that school staff would protect their children and give them a safe space to learn. She said she was beyond shocked to learn otherwise.

“The fact that all of the kids are nonverbal is the hardest part for me,” Moreno told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw. “The fact that I cannot ask her. It’s only by actions and how she reacts to certain people [that I can spot any issues.]”

Moreno said she became concerned when she first noticed her daughter’s behavior gradually changing.

“Throughout the whole year, I did not know why she would always yell at us and say, ‘Quiet!’ and she would point to our mouths and she would go, ‘Quiet!’ very loudly,” Moreno recalled.

Eleven families, whose special needs children are all in the same class, have filed a lawsuit against the Santa Ana Unified School District, saying staff failed to protect vulnerable students.

“I’ve had a lot of cases about children and this may be one of the most offensive cases I have seen,” said Elan Zekster, the attorney representing the families.

Zekster claimed the kids were neglected, verbally abused, humiliated and traumatized and believes the school district was aware of the abuse.

“What this teacher did was ingrain in the special needs children that they need to be quiet, they need to not be themselves and they need to shut up,” Zekster said.

The identity of the teacher seen in the troubling video is not being released as the woman has not been arrested or charged at this time.

Moreno said she will focus on speaking up for her daughter and hopes her story can help other families who may be struggling with similar issues.

“Don’t be afraid to fight for your kid,” Moreno said. “Don’t be afraid. Just speak up.”

Parents told KTLA that the teacher in question no longer works at the school, but no further details were released.

Santa Ana Unified School District responded to KTLA’s request for comment by saying:

“We acknowledge the seriousness of the allegations made regarding the behavior of one of our employees which are deeply concerning and contrary to the standards we uphold as a District. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities, and we are committed to addressing this matter with transparency and accountability.

While the matter is now the subject of active litigation, limiting what we can share, we want to assure our community that we are thoroughly reviewing the incident and are continuing to take appropriate steps to ensure accountability and student safety.

We understand the profound impact this situation has on students, families, and the broader community, and we are dedicated to ensuring that every student is provided with a secure, inclusive, and nurturing educational experience. SAUSD does not tolerate any actions that compromise student safety and is working diligently to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and care. We remain committed to collaborating with our community to address concerns, support affected families, and reinforce trust in our schools.”

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