PART 4 What nerve a teacher has to have an idea that fits the true intent of IDEA!

You could call this Part 4 if you would like.

If you have not read my book for more detailed info or any of these blog posts or have not watched any of the news coverage surrounding a shooting that happened on January 6, 2023 in a school in Newport News, Va. you may just think, as did the naive editor of the The Current  in 1998,  that this is just yesterday's news.

Think again.

We are celebrating 250 years of our Constitutional Republic this year. It is important for a free nation to remember its history. A free nation involves work to remain a Constitutional Republic. Sometimes the violent mob of oppression wants to ruin it. Sometimes only one voice can ruin it when the devils are in the details and have weak, mob followers.

Have you heard people deliberately misinterpret our Constitution? If not, were you asleep during the Covid lockdowns?  Any info on what is going on in NYC today?

Staying alert is important. Think.

Safe schools take work too, and lots of it. Our taxpayer dollars should work for all of our children, not against them. 

It seems the intent of IDEA in 1975 was to have school services benefit all children and their civil rights. I wonder if it was a response in 1975 to the decision in 1973 that blew up the rights of the unborn human, especially if it was found to be a human with disabilities. Maybe the IDEA advocates, researchers, and authors had seen disturbing patterns so they acted peacefully and in a proactive manner to benefit all children.

The law's intent is for civil rights for all children who attend school. Some have special needs. 

****NO One has special rights.****

This is where the rub is; in illegal misinterpretation of the law. If a child meets certain criteria a child may receive services that other children do not need. IDEA is basically a funding source for services and guidance in implementation. It is good fruit in the correct hands. 

Misinterpretation and implementation in the wrong hands has been a problem since 1975. 

The principal's spin on the law in my case was deliberately misleading. She was not stupid, but she was a vindictive person. (May still be.) 

Since I found the shooting of a first grade teacher by a six year old student, in Newport News, Va, on January 6, 2023 eerily similar to what could have happened in my class, I have paid attention to the news and so far one civil case and one, now dismissed,  criminal trial. 

My book again, outlines the details of my class, so I am not repeating them here. 

The court cases and some testimony in both trials has led me to a similar  conclusion. IGNORANCE of the intent of IDEA was ignored and/or intentionally used to allow a violent child to get to a point of almost committing murder. My other blog posts explain.

I am listing resources here so review the links. These websites summarize and list the law and guidance.

If you find in any part of the law that it states another student has special rights, more rights then another child, or can, with legal protection, hurt or threaten another student, call your represenratives. Make peaceful, advocacy noise.

The Least Restrictive Environment for learning; how one needy student or one vindicative administrator can ruin a students elementary experience..a deeper dive. Stay tuned.

idea.2004.all.pdf https://share.google/AXUNykpDwCS8AKWg5

Statute and Regulations - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act https://share.google/YR0eSMzFzfTfi4dIr

240502-Learn-the-Law-Individuals-with-Disabilities-Education-Act.pdf https://share.google/i5PNHELEGB0G5jvuN

Marian R. Carlino

May 30, 2026

What about JT? A 6 year old who shot his teacher

 Who is JT and What about him?

Just like CN in my former classroom, JT is a young child for whom a school district had concerns about his behaviors since he was in kindergarten. Unlike, CN in my former class, in 1998, JT pulled off trying to kill his teacher on January 6, 2023. He succeeded in leaving a bullet permanently lodged close to the heart of his first grade teacher after pulling the trigger in front of his classmates (in a classroom with no solid walls. The school had safe rooms in times of emergencies.)

My classroom could have been the scene of a similar event but it was not. My story is in detail in my book. The circumstances are still timely since two trials were recently held regarding the actions of JT. JT’s teachers faced very serious circumstances in reporting and dealing with their violent student. I could connect dots. The law could also in JT’s life. The teacher won a civil case, asking for a $40 million dollar award in the fall of 2025 and was awarded a civil judgement of $10 million per a jury decision. The State of Virginia jailed the mother and she lost custody. The State of Virginia thought a criminal case was warranted. A grand jury was convened and a trial was scheduled. The Grand Jury Report from 2024 outlines a lot of information.

The Grand Jury report did not indict the 6 year old. He was too young. Based on their findings, the Grand Jury did indict the VP, EP, and found fault with many security measures at the school.

On May 18, 2026, a jury was selected and on May 19,  2026,, the jury trial began. Suddenly, on May 20, 2026,  the trial was dismissed unilaterally by the judge. Evidently the 8 counts regarding the children did not meet the judges definition of criminal. 

SO, what about JT? Although I have no empathy for his actions, we know what angry children can do, wasn’t he a danger to himself?

BUT, didn’t the VP have a responsibility to protect JT from harming himself? He was not listed as one of the 8 counts.  His mother or custodial guardian was not called to testify by the prosecutors. The defense attorneys did not give an iota to the children’s rights. Other than the teacher, the most serious non physical trauma is actually being suffered by JT. Was the VP really protecting JT by ignoring nor acting proactively to the staff concerns? Why wasn’t he listed as a child in the indictment against the VP? 

The Grand Jury Report May explain about JT and the VP’s concern for safety. The teacher almost paid with her life. JT will never have a normal life. And as for the other children, well, the Judge did not care about their rights either. The prosecutor said in opening statements, the trial was about the children. Was it?  

What about JT? What about Justice for all? 

Read the Grand Jury Report in the link. Watch the short, dismissed trial on one of the many YouTube channels, like Court TV. And pray that your children’s school districts are prepared for prevention. The stakes are life changing when they are not.

https://www.wavy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Full-Report-2024-opt-1.pdf

Marian R. Carlino

May 25, 2026

 

How costly are missed warning signs?

 The 40-million-dollars? 

(Originally published on April 22, 2024, edited and updated November 7, 2025.)

A young teacher, who also suffered from depression before the shooting, filed a lawsuit against the school district after she was shot and seriously injured by her first-grade student, who was 6 years old. 

It was January 6, 2023.

She survived and sued for $40 million. The jury awarded the amount of  $10 million.

There are questions the lawsuit answered. Mainstream media covered this failure to protect.

A grand jury also has indicted the assistant principal, and the mother of the boy has received jail time.

The gun jammed; otherwise, per the Grand Jury report, the teacher may have been killed.  The children in the class could have suffered physical injuries in addition to the emotional trauma if the gun had not malfunctioned.

This is not a gun control issue. It is, though, about people not doing their jobs. The testimony revealed the missteps and failures.

The civil court case was decided by a jury on November 6, 2025, but not before the female defense attorney of the vice principal did her best to throw the young teacher under the proverbial bus.  Next up is the criminal trial against the vice principal.  I hope the defendant gets the "book thrown at her."

It was clear from the testimony that the teacher may not have understood she had the required permission to search the child. But per the chain of command, as many understand it in a school, the staff went to the vice principal. The rest is history.

In 2025, the defense lawyer said "unthinkable" and "unprecedented" in the questioning and closing arguments. She must still be living under a rock.  

November 6, 2025

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/abigail-zwerner-wins-10-million-lawsuit-shot-6-year-old-virginia-schoo-rcna240892

 Resources that I use to write.

How would you like your classroom remembered?  In a violent time, real questions deserve real answers.

40 million dollar failure...The jury thought it was worth 10 million for the teacher. I am happy she won.  Her life will never be the same.

Previous links: 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebony-parker-charged-child-neglect-shooting-richneck-elementary-school-virginia/

https://youtu.be/DHM4mgfw2_w?si=QjA_R4JogzPeC3R4

My book, Stopping School Violence One Teacher's Silent Scream, describes my concerns and actions in 1998. 

What would you have done?

Compare and contrast.  My principal was a Peter Principal also. It was a struggle to get my coworkers to understand that prevention is worth a pound of cure-- or at least $10 million dollars worth.

Marian R. Carlino

November 7, 2025

April 22, 2024