Overview
- On February 10, 2025, teacher Jason Rogers stepped on three students who were lying down during a school lockdown drill, causing one child to report severe back pain and at least one trip to the hospital.
- Rogers pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of malicious punishment of a child and this week was sentenced to two years of supervised probation and ordered to forfeit his teaching license.
- The court also imposed a $2,250 fine, 90 hours of community service, an anger management course, and required letters of apology to the victims, with the charges eligible for dismissal if he completes probation without new offenses.
- Prosecutors and reports noted Rogers weighed about 350 pounds at the time and admitted to stepping on multiple students after saying he thought they were not taking the drill seriously.
- The case ended Rogers' roles as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher and coach and highlights questions about staff conduct, school oversight during safety drills, and how licensure and criminal penalties are used to address educator misconduct.