After publication of a recent article regarding the arrest of Kimberly Hayward, a special education teacher at L.P. Vaughn who was arrested regarding allegations of abuse of one of her students, a concerned community member reached out to share what she described as a similar situation involving another special education student at Provencal Elementary.
The parents, Brittany and Jospeh Shaffer, are currently involved in a federal lawsuit against the Natchitoches Parish School Board over alleged abuse and discrimination involving their non-verbal, autistic daughter during the 2024–2025 school year.
An article on Legal Newsline, an independently owned publication that covers civil litigation across the United States states that Shaffer and her husband filed suit on Jan. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
According to the complaint, in April 2025 the school’s discipline coordinator allegedly handled the child “so forcefully” that she was left with bruising and red marks on her arm. The lawsuit further alleges her head was struck against a hard surface and her leg was injured during the encounter. Court filings state that at one point four adults — including two administrators and two aides — held the child to the ground by her arms and legs, allegedly causing physical and emotional injuries, while a special education teacher held the door closed.
Shaffer states she was told her daughter had an outburst and staff were attempting to prevent her from hurting herself. However, the parents contend their daughter is not prone to the type of outburst described and allege the school board failed to properly follow her Individualized Education Program and ensure her safety.
The lawsuit also claims the child was not provided a consistent one-on-one aide despite prior approval and alleges the school board failed to properly investigate the incident in accordance with policy. The parents ultimately withdrew their daughter from the school system and began homeschooling her.
They are seeking compensatory, punitive and nominal damages, as well as attorney’s fees. The case has been assigned to Judge Dee D. Drell. The allegations remain pending in federal court.
