Cumberland County teacher grabbed student by throat, officials say

FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WNCN) — A Cumberland County teacher faces charges after the sheriff’s office said she grabbed a student by the throat and later pulled the student to the ground by her hair.

On March 21, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received a report saying Kristian Cook, a teacher at Howard Learning Academy, had assaulted a student.

The sheriff’s office said Cook grabbed the female student by the throat and pushed her into a table. She later grabbed that student by the hair and pulled her to the ground.

Cook was charged with two counts of simple assault.

She surrendered to authorities Tuesday and later released on a $1,000 unsecured bond.

She was suspended with pay from March 21 to March 28, the school system confirmed.

She had been working with the school since January 2016.