Central Elementary Teacher Faces Assault Charge Involving Pre-K Student

BRUCETON (September 2) — A Pre-K teacher at Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central Elementary School faces an assault charge following an August 28 classroom incident involving a 4-year-old student.

Debra Robertson was arrested Wednesday, September 2, and booked into the Carroll County Jail. She is charged with assault under Tennessee Code Annotated §39-13-101. Her bond was set at $2,500.

The charge stems from an incident that reportedly occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday, August 28.

According to the affidavit of complaint, Robertson is accused of holding the child around the neck and head while attempting to make him eat a biscuit. Authorities reported the child suffered an injury to his lip and was visibly upset following the incident.

Carroll County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer Chris Cole filed the affidavit of complaint in the case.

A judicial commissioner determined September 1 that probable cause existed to issue an arrest warrant. According to court information, Robertson had not entered a plea as of September 2.

Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District Director of Schools David Duncan confirmed Robertson was removed from the classroom following the incident.

“On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District received notice that a teacher, Debra Robertson, was in the process of being charged with assault,” Duncan said in a statement released by the district. “The charge involves allegations of mistreatment of a student who was in her classroom.”

Duncan said the district acted before the criminal charge was formally filed.

“On the date of the incident, Ms. Robertson was immediately placed on suspension, and she remains on suspension without pay pending the outcome of the case,” Duncan said.

The child's mother, Anna Townsend, later spoke publicly about the incident. Townsend said school officials contacted her the afternoon of August 28 and that she and the child's father were permitted to view classroom surveillance footage.

Townsend said the incident began after her son did not want to eat breakfast. She reported that her son had a cut lip and scratch on his face following the encounter.

The case remains pending. The allegations contained in the affidavit have not been proven in court, and Robertson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.