Spartanburg County Teachers Charged for Abusing Special Needs Students

School classroom designed for special needs kids with educational tools.

News Summary

In a troubling series of events, two teachers from Spartanburg County have been charged with child cruelty for incidents involving special needs students. The first incident involved a teacher striking a 17-year-old student, while the second saw a teacher’s assistant dragging a 4-year-old student. Both educators are no longer employed, and investigations are underway to ensure the safety of vulnerable students in the district.

Spartanburg County Teachers in Trouble for Abuse of Special Needs Students

In a shocking turn of events, two former teachers from Spartanburg County District Seven have been charged with child cruelty after two disturbing incidents involving special needs students. These revelations have rocked the community and left many parents concerned about the safety of their children in schools specifically designed for those with special needs.

A Disturbing Incident at McCarthy-Teszler School

The first incident took place on February 17 at the McCarthy-Teszler School, which caters exclusively to special needs students and has an enrollment of approximately 230 children. Reports indicate that 44-year-old Mary Simmons Dobbing was caught on camera striking a 17-year-old special needs student in the head, not just once, but twice. Shockingly, this violent act was witnessed by multiple staff members, one of whom recorded it on their phone.

After the incident, the matter was promptly reported to the school resource officer, who began an investigation into what happened that day. On March 15, Dobbing was arrested and hit with two counts of child cruelty. Just a day later, she was released on a bond of $785 but is now prohibited from contacting the victim or their family.

A Frightening Encounter at EP Todd Elementary

EP Todd Elementary School. This time, 23-year-old Elizabeth Mae Wypych, a first-year teacher’s assistant, was observed dragging a 4-year-old special needs student down the hallway by their wrist. Like Dobbing’s actions, several staff members witnessed this alarming behavior, and they too reported it to a school resource officer.

Wypych confessed to her actions later that same day, acknowledging the gravity of what she had done. She was arrested on March 17 and charged with child cruelty. Following her arrest, Wypych was released after posting a $787 bond but is also under restrictions to ensure she has no contact with the victim involved.

Aftermath and Community Concerns

Both Dobbing and Wypych are now no longer employed by Spartanburg County District Seven. The incidents have raised questions about the safety and overall environment for special needs students in the district. Given the nature of these cases, the Special Victims Unit of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the matters, seeking to understand how these events could have transpired in a school setting.

A Call for Vigilance

While Spartanburg County School District Seven has so far refrained from providing additional comments beyond confirming the employment statuses of the involved teachers, the community is left wondering how such incidents can be prevented in the future. As details continue to unfold, one thing’s for sure: parents will be keeping a close eye on changes and improvements in how special needs education is handled in their schools.

As investigators work to uncover the full extent of these incidents, the hope is that measures will be put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, especially the most vulnerable among us.