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TOP JOBS

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

CANTON — Officials at the Van Zandt County Jail told the Tyler Paper that a Van first-grade teacher accused of assaulting a woman at a Little Dribbler basketball game has been arrested and arraigned.

Jeanette Hughes is in the process of being booked into jail on assault charges, jail officials said.

Parents and children were shocked when an elementary teacher and another woman got into a fist fight Saturday morning.

Van Police Chief Kelly Smith said Monday he had an arrest warrant for Hughes, a first-grade teacher at Rhodes Elementary, and confirmed that an arrest would be made.

The newspaper began looking into the incident after receiving phone calls about the fight that occurred in the school gymnasium.

"She was punching the other woman in front of everyone including her own kids," said one woman who did not want to be identified.

The newspaper attempted to obtain an arrest affidavit, but the judge who signed the warrant said Ms. Hughes had not been arrested as of 4:30 p.m. Monday and he could not release the requested information until an arrest was made.

The victim said during a conversation on the telephone that she suffered multiple blows to the head and was treated at a hospital.

"She hit me so many times in the head," said the woman, who substitutes at the school.

The victim said her face was swollen and she was not feeling well. She added she would speak to the newspaper in greater detail in the coming days.

Independent School District Superintendent Joddie Witte said the incident was unacceptable.

"I've been told they had some type of disagreement with a little shoving going on and then Ms. Hughes hit the other woman," he said.

Witte said an investigation into the incident would be conducted by the school district before any decisions would be made regarding the woman's employment with the school.

He added that Ms. Hughes was in her first year with the school district and that teachers need to understand they are held to a higher standard as they are charged with educating our children.

He expressed disdain at one of his employees fighting in front of children.

"I can't imagine any justification for it and as a professional you have to be above that type of behavior," he said.

Updated Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. CST