LONGVIEW, Texas — Editor's Note: The above video aired in September 2022.
A former Longview ISD employee was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to her involvement in allegations of abusing 11 special education students at J.L. Everhart Elementary.
Former teacher’s aide Paula Hawkins Dixon entered a guilty plea to injury to a child charges in the 188th District Court, according to online judicial records. Later Thursday afternoon, she was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The charges stem from alleged offenses toward students enrolled in the J.L. Everhart Elementary life skills classroom. She was one of six former Longview ISD employees who were arrested and indicted. The charges against the educators range from injury to a child, abandonment or endangerment of a child and unlawful restraint of a person under 17.
According to the Longview News-Journal, video of the alleged abuse was shown in court Thursday and Dixon could be seen striking special education children with a rod.
In September 2022, Longview ISD trustees approved a $2.5 million settlement to be distributed among 10 of the children and their families. Earlier this year, an 11th child and their family was awarded $250,000.
According to LISD and East Texas Advanced Academies, the district was made aware in October 2021 that a teacher and two instructional assistants at the J.L. Everhart Elementary life skills classroom mistreated students.
In a statement, the school said each employee involved was fired or chose to resign.
Cases for the other five former employees remain ongoing. Former special education teacher Cecilia Gregg has her trial set for Feb. 12, according to judicial records.
Former International Baccalaureate teacher Priscilla Rosa Johnson has a hearing on Feb. 7, 2024, former teacher’s aide Cynthia Denise Talley has her hearing on Dec. 6, former J.L. Everhart Principal Cassandra Renee James and former Curriculum Coordinator/Assistant Principal Linda Kay Browne Lister have a hearing on Feb. 7, records show.