VA- 6-YEAR-OLD is in custody after shooting teacher

[Sunshine95]

I'm just curious on the outside school learning environment. What does that look like? Where would the child go? Thanks for sharing!

Basically the student comes to school outside of regular hours to be taught by a teacher one on one for several hours a week, depending on what’s decided they need. Then they are supposed to work from home. Not ideal but is used sometimes for kids who can’t be in regular class due to behavior issues/ mental health or sometimes things like severe social anxiety.

 

[shotgun09]

The lawyer representing the former principal of Richneck Elementary School will be issuing a statement Thursday.

Briana Foster-Newton, who was overseeing the school as of the 2022-2023 school year, was named the school’s principal in July 2022 per the school’s social media pages and is still employed by the district.

Foster-Newton’s lawyer will be issuing the statement during a press conference on Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. at Royal Manchester in Richmond.

Lawyer for Former Richneck Elementary School principal to issue statement

I am anticipating the 'press conference' ( probably no questions ) at 1 pm, and expecting the usual platitudes of thankfulness, kind words towards AZ, and all students etc. <modsnip: not victim friendly toward parents> MOO

 

[IDK]

I am anticipating the 'press conference' ( probably no questions ) at 1 pm, and expecting the usual platitudes of thankfulness, kind words towards AZ, and all students etc. <modsnip: not victim friendly toward parents> MOO

Agree. Any possibility that she might be filing a lawsuit against anyone, in your opinion? Just curios why she felt the need to hire a lawyer.

The school system kept her on, so looks like her employer does not think she is liable/responsible in any way?
Interested in other opinions on this.

 

[shotgun09]

Agree. Any possibility that she might be filing a lawsuit against anyone, in your opinion? Just curios why she felt the need to hire a lawyer.

The school system kept her on, so looks like her employer does not think she is liable/responsible in any way?
Interested in other opinions on this.

My guess? I believe that some are, in this case, anticipating that formal charges will be/ more than likely, coming. Example: "The Family's Attorney" , and now Brianna Foster-Newton. Until then, they are per-emptively defending themselves, IMO

 

[IDK]

My guess? I believe that some are, in this case, anticipating that formal charges will be/ more than likely, coming. Example: "The Family's Attorney" , and now Brianna Foster-Newton. Until then, they are per-emptively defending themselves, IMO

Thank you! I was wondering…

 

[Arkay]

Basically the student comes to school outside of regular hours to be taught by a teacher one on one for several hours a week, depending on what’s decided they need. Then they are supposed to work from home. Not ideal but is used sometimes for kids who can’t be in regular class due to behavior issues/ mental health or sometimes things like severe social anxiety.

I'm not familiar with students coming to school outside of class hours.

In NY we do have something called Home Instruction. This is NOT home-schooling.
As opposed to home-schooling, with instruction provided by a parent or guardian, Home Instruction is when a licensed teacher comes to the home, during regular school hours, and teaches the child on a one-to-one basis.

In my experience, this has been done when a child is unable to come to school for medical reasons, such as having had surgery and the child is homebound. It typically lasts only until the child has regained the ability to go to school, although I remember a situation where the child had a true paranoia about the school environment and was given Home Instruction permanently.

I have several friends who as retired teachers made this their field. I had considered it when I retired, but decided I didn't want to travel around. Plus, I could never adequately teach Math!!!!

In Home Instruction, the parent or guardian is present and the child is in the familiar home environment.

Whether or not such an option is available for a child who has proven to be potentially violent, I am unsure. I don't personally know of any such case. The teacher would also have to consider personal safety. However, if in a situation such as this, where the parent was mandated to accompany the child, it may have helped. Certainly it would make it more difficult for the child to access a gun with the parents present.

Jmo and experience.

 

[shotgun09]

Well! The press conference was 'enlightening'.

Per the attorney's 'statement', Ms Newton did not receive ANY notifications regarding a gun in the school that day. Per attorney, she was also not one of the 'school administration staff" who was told of the weapon, as the local news and social media have insinuated. She was present that day though. Oh, and Ms Newton has been getting threats also.

Link below, with video of press conference:

Former Richneck Elementary School principal not aware of student bringing gun to school, says lawyer

The former principal of Richneck Elementary School says she was not aware of the accused student bringing a weapon to school on the day of the shooting, her lawyer states.

www.wavy.com

"According to Attorney Pamela Johnson Branch, former principal Briana Foster-Newton was not part of the “unidentified administrators” being reported to have been aware of the six-year-old suspect having brought a gun on the day of the shooting."

ETA: Added link w video

 

[fred&edna]

Well! The press conference was 'enlightening'.

Per the attorney's 'statement', Ms Newton did not receive ANY notifications regarding a gun in the school that day. Per attorney, she was also not one of the 'school administration staff" who was told of the weapon, as the local news and social media have insinuated. She was present that day though. Oh, and Ms Newton has been getting threats also.

Link below, with video of press conference:

Former Richneck Elementary School principal not aware of student bringing gun to school, says lawyer

The former principal of Richneck Elementary School says she was not aware of the accused student bringing a weapon to school on the day of the shooting, her lawyer states.

www.wavy.com

"According to Attorney Pamela Johnson Branch, former principal Briana Foster-Newton was not part of the “unidentified administrators” being reported to have been aware of the six-year-old suspect having brought a gun on the day of the shooting."

ETA: Added link w video

So, we are left with the assumption that the Assistant Principal (Ebony Parker - who resigned) was the one who was aware that day?

However, I wonder if the principal was aware of other warnings/threats of harm to the teacher PRIOR to the day of the shooting?? Obviously, threats are important.

jmo

 

[Ontario Mom]

I watched the brief announcement here Former Richneck Elementary School principal not aware of student bringing gun to school, says lawyer from her attorney. These are the comments that stand out to me, the most:

"I'm aware that there has been a lot of information reported publicly, some of which has not been accurate, or precise..."

"Mrs. Newton has also been very quiet, dealing with her own dismay since the shooting on January 6th. Mrs. Newton has received threatening voicemails, wishing her ill. She has also been the subject of misinformed social media posts, but has remained calm, professional and respectful throughout this entire ordeal. It continues to be reported that unidentified school administrators were aware that the six year old student had a gun at school on January 6th, and simply failed to act. Mrs. Newton has been assumed to have been one of those administrators. However, this is far from the truth. The fact of the matter is that those who were aware that the student may have had a gun on the premises that day, did not report this to Mrs. Newton at all."

Sure sounds to me like random people online on various platforms, shooting their mouths off, making assumptions and accusations without knowing the facts, which in turn lead to threats of harm made toward innocent people. Sadly, in our society that seems to happen more and more often.

I get that folks want accountability and responsibility and justice and all those good and right things, but this is not the way to achieve that.

jmo

ETA: partial transcript quote from the attorney

 

[shotgun09]

I watched the brief announcement here Former Richneck Elementary School principal not aware of student bringing gun to school, says lawyer from her attorney and it sure sounds to me like random people online on various platforms, shooting their mouths off, making assumptions and accusations without knowing the facts, which in turn lead to threats of harm made toward innocent people. Sadly, in our society that seems to happen more and more often.

I get that folks want accountability and responsibility and justice and all those good and right things, but this is not the way to achieve that.

jmo

While I am certainly not for " Mob Justice" at all, and find harmful threats and such abhorrent, the facts as we know in this case are limited. There have been zero factual names given freely by LE, or Investigators, or the DA for that matter. We only have Abby's name as official. And the Superintendent's name. There have been labels given, like.." school admin staff", and " the family" by LE to the press.

It has been the MSM along with Social Media who have run with various suggestions. It has also been parents and teachers speaking up in Open to the Public school board meetings who reach these same conclusions. This woman was just removed from her high ranking position, and it was announced via MSM. It's not rocket science, nor is it a public hanging in the town square. It is suggested, here and elsewhere (and with some merit, IMO ) that she may have had some part, or knowledge of this.

I find it odd, that the former Principal needed a legal spokesperson to release the statement, without her being formally charged. ( Yet ? )

MOO

 

[iamshadow21]

While I am certainly not for " Mob Justice" at all, and find harmful threats and such abhorrent, the facts as we know in this case are limited. There have been zero factual names given freely by LE, or Investigators, or the DA for that matter. We only have Abby's name as official. And the Superintendent's name. There have been labels given, like.." school admin staff", and " the family" by LE to the press.

It has been the MSM along with Social Media who have run with various suggestions. It has also been parents and teachers speaking up in Open to the Public school board meetings who reach these same conclusions. This woman was just removed from her high ranking position, and it was announced via MSM. It's not rocket science, nor is it a public hanging in the town square. It is suggested, here and elsewhere (and with some merit, IMO ) that she may have had some part, or knowledge of this.

I find it odd, that the former Principal needed a legal spokesperson to release the statement, without her being formally charged. ( Yet ? )

MOO

Is this a private legal representative, or someone supplied by the school district or union? (I don't know if you have a teacher's union in the US.)

 

[shotgun09]

Is this a private legal representative, or someone supplied by the school district or union? (I don't know if you have a teacher's union in the US.)

Interesting question! I do not have that answer.
Makes one further question things though...

 

[fred&edna]

It would be nice to have the completed police investigative report made public (redacted with child's info etc - of course) so we might understand exactly how Abigail Zwerner was shot in her classroom by a 6 year old with a 9mm gun. As of now, I cannot think of a plausible reason as to how this "accidentally" occurred.

 

[Sunshine95]

I'm not familiar with students coming to school outside of class hours.

In NY we do have something called Home Instruction. This is NOT home-schooling.
As opposed to home-schooling, with instruction provided by a parent or guardian, Home Instruction is when a licensed teacher comes to the home, during regular school hours, and teaches the child on a one-to-one basis.

In my experience, this has been done when a child is unable to come to school for medical reasons, such as having had surgery and the child is homebound. It typically lasts only until the child has regained the ability to go to school, although I remember a situation where the child had a true paranoia about the school environment and was given Home Instruction permanently.

I have several friends who as retired teachers made this their field. I had considered it when I retired, but decided I didn't want to travel around. Plus, I could never adequately teach Math!!!!

In Home Instruction, the parent or guardian is present and the child is in the familiar home environment.

Whether or not such an option is available for a child who has proven to be potentially violent, I am unsure. I don't personally know of any such case. The teacher would also have to consider personal safety. However, if in a situation such as this, where the parent was mandated to accompany the child, it may have helped. Certainly it would make it more difficult for the child to access a gun with the parents present.

Jmo and experience.

I’m sure it varies by state and school district. We also have Homebound education for kids like medically fragile, like what you described. But the OSE tends to be more for mental health type situations where teachers are safer/ more comfortable to teach at school rather than in the home.

 

[Simply Southern]

I'm not surprised Ms Newton, was unaware. Many reported. I'd be interesting in hearing how, she could NOT know. This incident transpired over several hours, engaging at least three staff. Is there an open door policy? All my opinion.


Diane Toscano, a lawyer for Abigail Zwerner, said Wednesday that on the day of the shooting, concerned teachers and employees warned administrators three times that the boy had a gun on him and was threatening other students, "but the administration could not be bothered."

Virginia school administrators were warned 3 times before 6-year-old shot teacher: lawyers

A Virginia teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student during class will sue the school district, the teacher’s attorney announced Wednesday.

www.fox5dc.com

 

[Lilibet]

It continues to be reported that unidentified school administrators were aware that the six year old student had a gun at school on January 6th, and simply failed to act. Mrs. Newton has been assumed to have been one of those administrators. However, this is far from the truth. The fact of the matter is that those who were aware that the student may have had a gun on the premises that day, did not report this to Mrs. Newton at all."

I’m curious how many “school administrators” work at an elementary school besides the principal and assistant principal, who resigned? Back in the dark ages when my husband taught at two different elementary schools, the only “administrator” on campus was the principal. So if Mrs. Newton, the principal, wasn’t told about the gun, who were the “administrators” (plural) who were told? And why didn’t they tell Mrs. Newton? Regardless of who knew about the gun (administrator or not), they apparently didn’t feel the need to report that to Mrs. Newton. Why not? There was a break-down in crucial communication, and the “buck stops” with Mrs. Newton as the principal. I hope she’s not the only one relieved of her duties. Anyone who brushed off the reports needs to go. A hard, but necessary lesson.
JMO

ETA: Corrected to mention the assistant principal who resigned.

 

[Simply Southern]

I’m curious how many “school administrators” work at an elementary school besides the principal. Is there a vice-principal? Back in the dark ages when my husband taught at two different elementary schools, the only “administrator” on campus was the principal. Perhaps more people are designated (and paid as) administrators now. So if Mrs. Newton, the principal, wasn’t told about the gun, who were the “administrators” who were told? And why didn’t they tell Mrs. Newton? Regardless of who knew about the gun (administrator or not), they apparently didn’t feel the need to report that to Mrs. Newton. Why not? There was a break-down in crucial communication, and the “buck stops” with Mrs. Newton as the principal. I hope she’s not the only one relieved of her duties. Anyone who brushed off the reports needs to go. A hard, but necessary lesson.
JMO

Ms. Newton, was reassigned to another position. The Asst Principal resigned.
Moo...

 

[Lilibet]

Me. Newton, was reassigned to another position. The Asst Principal resigned.
Moo...

Thanks. I corrected my post to mention the assistant principal who resigned. I guess I’m hung up on plural “administrators” who were notified, not including the principal. And why the principal wasn’t brought into the loop, assuming that’s the case.

 

[Laughing]

Is this a private legal representative, or someone supplied by the school district or union? (I don't know if you have a teacher's union in the US.)

My guess -- this attorney is at least recommended by the teacher's union/teacher's association OR this principal's professional liability insurance carrier. JMHO>

 

[Simply Southern]

Thanks. I corrected my post to mention the assistant principal who resigned. I guess I’m hung up on plural “administrators” who were notified, not including the principal. And why the principal wasn’t brought into the loop, assuming that’s the case.

I'm kinda hung up on, ""but the administration could not be bothered".

What is odd, Richneck is the only school with an Administrator. All others are Principals, even the spreadsheet heading. This was recently changed when the Principal was transferred.

Directory of Schools

Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) Directory of Schools

sbo.nn.k12.va.us