9 Investigates: Teachers getting bullied in local schools

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bullying has become widespread in schools nationwide and in Charlotte, but a Channel 9 investigation discovered that student's aren't the only victims.

Eyewitness News uncovered reports of teachers assaulted inside local schools and took those numbers to the district to find out what was being done to protect them.

When cell phone video from New York posted online showed a bus monitor bullied by her students, it sparked outrage across the company.

Eyewitness News wanted to know how often something similar happens to teachers and staff in Charlotte.

"It is verbal abuse. Can you see that happening at CMS? It happens every day," said Judy Kidd, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher and the president of the Classroom Teachers Association of North Carolina. She said "verbal" abuse is just the beginning.

Kidd said a student pushed her in the hallway.

Another put their hands around a teacher's throat.

And teachers told her at least two others have put chemicals in teacher's drinks.

She said those are just a few of "several" incidents.

"It's frightening," said one teacher.

This teacher asked for identity to not be revealed. She said she was scared when a student became angry with the way she was being disciplined.

"I had one time when a student picked up something that was left lying in the classroom that was quite heavy and she threw it across the room at me," said the teacher.

North Carolina does track the number of reported assaults on school personnel.

A recent report shows that last year, there were 382 reported assaults in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.

That's up from the year before when there were 305 -- a sharp increase from just four years ago when that number was 104.

Charlie Smith, a co-president of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators, said, "I have known female teachers who have been scared to come to work every day. They were being intimidated by male students."

Smith said teachers tell him the problem is that while some principals are strict and regularly punish students who misbehave - -- others do not.

Kidd said she thinks schools need more social workers and psychologists to look at "why" some students act out toward their teachers.

"There's room for improvement," said CMS Chief Operating Officer Millard House.

He said if the district gets more money in the next budget cycle, it may place more counselors in schools.

But he also said in his monthly meetings with the teacher's association, this issue has not come up this year.

And he said the district's research tells a different story.

He showed me the most recent annual survey of teachers in which 94 percent of those who responded said they feel safe in school.

"Is there a small percentage of teachers who feel unsafe? Yes. Is that an issue? Yes. Is that something we want to take a close look at and concentrate on until that data goes in a different direction? Yes," said Millard.

House said teachers are filling out a new survey right now which will help the district evaluate "where" bullying is happening, "why," and the best way to deal it as the district works to protect all of its teachers.

WSOC