A Fresno Unified School District teacher was injured two weeks ago while breaking up a fight in her classroom that involved a relative of a student.
The teacher, Alison Mattox, and Fresno Teachers Association President Manuel Bonilla are calling on the district to take action.
Driving the news: Mattox, a teacher at McLane High School, spoke at a press conference this week alongside Bonilla to detail the incident.
- They said Mattox was trying to break up a fight on Oct. 3 between two students and an adult relative to one of the students.
- One of the students and the relative managed to make her way onto campus un-checked and entered Mattox’s classroom and attacked another student.
- Mattox suffered a concussion trying to break up the fight.
Go deeper: Mattox said the incident involved one student bullying the other.
- Mattox had received screenshots of threats from the bullying student to the victim for two weeks prior. She took them to a school counselor who said the student should be suspended from cheer practice. But the bullying student’s mother refused to allow that. When Mattox went to her principal and vice principal, she was told to use restorative practices and not discipline.
- One day after trying to deal with the situation with restorative practices, the bullying student and adult relative walked into the classroom during lunch and attacked the victim.
- Fresno police have not made an arrest in the case.
What they’re saying: “Could you imagine the fact that somebody, an adult relative, was able to go onto a campus that should have been secure during lunch time, was able to assault a teacher and a student and able to then leave and not be apprehended,” Bonilla said.
- Fresno Unified gave the following statement to KMPH after the incident: “Nearly two weeks ago, an adult family member unlawfully entered one of our campuses with the intent to instigate and participate in a fight between students. This premeditated act of violence, brought onto our school by adults, is entirely unacceptable. Our schools are safe spaces for learning, and such behavior undermines the very foundation of that mission.
- “We are immensely grateful to the teacher who bravely and immediately intervened to protect her student. No educator should ever be placed in a situation where their safety is compromised due to the actions of a family member. This incident is a crime, and we are fully cooperating with Fresno PD, who continues to actively investigate the matter. We hope that the family involved will be held accountable for their actions.
- “Our focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff. The school site and our district have reviewed safety protocols and made shifts to enhance campus safety even further.”
