Violence against teachers on the rise nationally, experts weigh in with solutions 

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawyer Martha Owen thinks people would be surprised by the amount of violence teachers are subjected to.  

Owen serves as special counsel to the Texas American Federation of Teachers, a union that advocates and provides resources to public school employees. She has defended several teachers who have been assaulted in the classrooms by students and has noticed an increase since the pandemic. 

“I think if you asked 10 teachers, nine out of 10 are going to say that they have noticed a difference with just students not obeying directives, with students not staying on task or being agitated by other students,” she said.  

A 2022 study conducted by the American Psychological Association found 56% of teachers reported incidents of physical violence committed by students post-pandemic — a 26% increase compared to before the pandemic.  

The study’s findings are reflected across Texas — with a 58% increase in reported assaults perpetrated by students against district employees from the 2018-2019 school year to the 2023-2024 school year, according to data provided by the Texas Education Agency. 

Measures in place 

Under Texas Education Code, if a district employee is physically assaulted on the job, they may apply for assault leave, which can last up to two years. The leave is separate from workers' compensation and school districts are required to put the district employee on leave immediately after applying.

States determine how public schools should operate and what resources teachers and district employees may be offered if a student assaults them. 

“Assault leave” varies by state. For example, South Carolina refers to it as “administrative leave” and district employees may receive 180 days, whereas in Florida, district employees have no form of “assault leave” and may apply for workers’ compensation instead. 

Texas AFT president Zeph Capo believes many districts do not properly inform teachers of their right to use the leave.

Reform at the legislative level paired with funding is necessary to protect teachers, Capo said. Last year, the Texas Legislature passed several safety laws to tackle active-shooter threats, like Senate Bill 838, which requires schools to install panic buttons in classrooms. But Capo believes lawmakers didn't go far enough.

“We spent time last legislative session passing legislation on vape pens, rather than focusing on the professional supports that teachers needed, and the behavioral supports that students needed to keep our teachers from being assaulted,” he said. 

Texas public schools are required to have an armed security officer on campus. Though not required, some teachers feel that installing metal detectors is an extra layer of protection. 

“We'll say that they're not necessary until someone gets hurt, and then it's too late,” Capo said. 

Student supports 

Responsibility isn’t something kids are born with — it’s taught, said Terrell Ratliff, managing partner at Lento Law Firm. He said he applies this logic to his own children and the students he defends. He said he has witnessed firsthand how the pandemic stunted some children's emotional growth. 

“There's kindergarteners that didn't have any graduation — these are huge milestones,” he said. “These are big things, and we have a large group of people that was robbed of that experience, not to any fault of their own. We don't have the normal student walking into a classroom because they're just dealing with a lot more mental health.” 

Ratliff primarily handles cases defending students who have assaulted their teachers. Though legal action may be necessary, Ratliff believes screening students' mental health at the beginning of the year could help teachers grasp what their students may require. 

“We can hop in there and sue right?” he said. “But that's not really solving the underlying problem.” 

Some may jump to expulsion as a solution, but Ratliff is a part of a growing anti-expulsion effort that advocates reforming practices regarding suspensions. Some experts promote counseling or community service as an alternative.  

Growing up, Ratliff was the “bad kid.” Now as a lawyer, he hopes to provide troubled students with the tools to correct their path in the new social landscape. 

“It's different,” he said. “These kids got crisis drills, hide under a desk like it — like it's World War I. It's a different experience for them.”