RANCHO CORDOVA – A 5-year-old Black special needs student at Williamson Elementary in Rancho Cordova was restrained and slapped by his teacher, Amber McGiffen, on Sept. 11, Folsom Cordova Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Sarah Koligian confirmed Sept. 25 at a press conference in front of the school.
Eceon Graham, who has been taken out of the school by his parents, allegedly was getting on the school bus when McGiffen violently restrained him and slapped him.
Surrounded by supporters, Eceon’s parents, Ebony McNeal and Willie Graham, said they were contacted by the superintendent’s office Sept. 14, three days after the incident, and are calling for the immediate firing and even arrest of McGiffen.
“I’m still fighting for my son and I’m still trying to figure out what exactly happened to him,” McNeal said.
Koligian said this was McGiffen’s first year as a special education teacher.
“The teacher was removed from the classroom once another employee made a report that was investigated by the school,” Koligian said.
Koligian said the district applauds those who “step up and say something.”
According to Angela Griffin Ankheli, the district’s chief communications officer, the district on Sept. 13 received an alarming report from a staff member concerning the actions of a special education teacher they witnessed Sept. 11.
“On Sept. 13, the teacher was put on administrative leave and an investigation was launched,” Griffin Ankheli said in a statement. “The teacher has not been in an FCUSD classroom since Sept. 13.”
On Sept. 14, the assistant superintendent of special education reached out to the family and the next day met with the family in person. Also at the meeting were the school’s administrator and student’s individualized education program team to formulate a plan for the student’s classroom placement and additional support to address their well-being, Griffin Ankheli said.
“When I came to pick up my son on Sept. 14, [McGiffen] was not in the classroom,” McNeal said.
Berry Accius, community advocate and founder of mentorship program Voice of the Youth, called the district’s actions unacceptable and called for it to act immediately.
“Someone needs to be fired,” Accius said.
Eceon has autism and is unable to verbalize thoughts and feelings, his mother said.
“He’s extremely bright and communicative,” McNeal said. “Just because he doesn’t talk doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand.”
McNeal said she had problems with the school and teacher from the beginning of the school year Aug. 8, when the teacher showed up late to class and was told by the vice principal to “get off campus.”
“I was not happy with the way that I walked into the classroom,” McNeal said. There was no one there to greet me. The teacher [McGiffen] didn’t even arrive until 30 minutes later.”
McNeal told the vice principal that she did not feel comfortable leaving her son at the school having not yet met his teacher.
“But I did leave my child there,” McNeal said. “I do have to go to work.”
Five days later, McNeal said she received a call from McGiffen to come pick up Eceon because he was being “unruly.” An aide eventually told McNeal they had lost her son in the cafeteria.
“They had to do an all lockdown on the school and he made it out of the cafeteria and off campus,” McNeal said. “My son was able to get through these black gates and onto this busy street.”
McNeal said she is waiting on a report from CPS and the district.
“No one had information,” McNeal said.
She said that ultimately, McGiffen needs to be fired and arrested.
“She harmed my special needs child,” McNeal said. “She needs to be arrested. That’s the bottom line.”
She also said the district needs to make changes to its individualized education program system and staff.
“The teachers in his special needs classroom were not properly trained,” McNeal said. “I don’t feel like the people in the classroom were able to support the children that they had in there.”
Koligian said the district will make this right and hold staff accountable, with consequences ranging from disciplinary action to dismissal.
“But, we have to go through the investigative process … because of that there is certain information that we cannot disclose,” Koligian said.
The district said if there are improvements it can make, it wants to be aware so it can provide excellent and safe learning spaces for all of its students.
“As we examine the steps that have led to this incident, we are also looking at ways we can strengthen our processes and training for staff,” Griffin Ankheli said.
News of the incident follows the Sept.15 arrest of an FCUSD special education teacher aide on charges related to child sexual abuse.
Eceon’s parents said they will seek legal counsel, but declined further comment.