A celebrated educator has fallen from grace after a shocking viral video showed her violently beating her 12-year-old son with a belt.
Randi Nicole Staples, 44, a second-grade teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile, Alabama — and the school’s 2025 Teacher of the Year — was arrested after footage surfaced of her striking her son more than 20 times, yelling at him for not doing his chores. The video also appears to show her grabbing the boy by his hair and forcing him to stand.
The clip was posted by her 24-year-old son, Jackson, who said his mother abused him throughout his childhood and that he felt compelled to expose her. The school notified authorities immediately and fired her.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch called the behavior “repulsive” and “far beyond discipline,” describing Staples as having a “dual personality” — respected at school but abusive at home.
Three children in the home were removed and are now safe with relatives. Authorities say more charges may follow.
Staples pleaded not guilty to willful child abuse and was released on a $7,500 bond.