A Louisville mother says she secretly hid a camera in her seven-year-old autistic son’s hair after repeated calls from his school claiming he was aggressive in class. Tiphanee Lee said the behavior didn’t match how her nonverbal son, Semaj, acted at home, so she decided to investigate herself.
After placing the recording device in his hair on May 13, Tiphanee claims the footage captured verbal and physical mistreatment by an assistant teacher at Field Elementary School while the main teacher was out of the room.
According to Tiphanee, the recording included staff yelling phrases like “get off me, boy” and “go away,” while Semaj screamed and clapped in distress. She also alleged the footage captured staff discussing marijuana and edibles inside the classroom.
Tiphanee later accused a staff member of using a racial slur toward her son and claimed the recording showed him being pinched and strangled. She has demanded a full investigation, called for cameras in classrooms, and wants all involved staff fired.
The accused staff member has reportedly been reassigned and barred from the school building, while several special education staff members were fired earlier this month. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.