Two Chambers County educators were arrested in April on charges of harassing and assaulting a student with disabilities.

According to court documents, Jawana Lavette Shepard, 40, allegedly struck, shoved, kicked and slapped the student. Napoleon Vontrosky Goodman, 35, allegedly grabbed and pinched the student. Both have pleaded not guilty in charges in a local court.

The alleged incident took place on Aug. 8, 2022, according to court records. Both educators work at Valley High School.

Ken Bauman, an attorney who represented the child’s family during a dispute over special education services at Valley High School, said parents told school leaders their child had been abused by a special education teacher and aide. The parents felt like the school did not take the claim seriously, and later reported it to police.

The police investigation was separate from the dispute with the school, Bauman said, and said he could not offer any information about that. The dispute over special education services has been settled.

Shepard is currently licensed to teach in Alabama and has a teaching certificate as a collaborative special education teacher. She is listed on the Valley High School website as the school’s only special education teacher.

Goodman was a special education aide at the time of the incident, Baumann said. Goodman’s name is not listed on the Valley High School website as being employed at the school currently.

AL.com has been unable to verify the employment status of Shepard or Goodman with the school board. Both listed Valley High School as their employer on separate bond agreements.

According to WBRL, both are still employed by the county school system. The superintendent told the TV station that he did not know of any evidence that the student was harmed by a district employee.