Updated: Gilmer School Employee Fired for Alleged Child Cruelty

A Gilmer County School System employee has been fired and has since been arrested.

Maria Murray worked as an attendant care person for a Gilmer Elementary School. Last Wednesday, she was allegedly involved in an incident with a student and immediately put on leave following that incident.

Murray was booked in the Gilmer County Jail on Wednesday for the alleged charge of Child Cruelty.
On Thursday of last week, the elementary school contacted law enforcement about a possible act of child cruelty committed by Ms. Murray.

FYN met with School Superintendent Jason Kouns on Thursday morning in order to discuss the incident.

Kouns said that he conducted an internal investigation on Thursday and Friday and met with the Ms. Murray on Monday to terminate her.

Official statement from Superintendent Kouns:

Upon investigation by Building Level Administration and Central Office personnel, it was noted that an incident took place, where a student care-giver/advocate, was involved in making inappropriate physical contact, of a non-sexual manner with a child housed at Ellijay Elementary School.

The Teacher reported, and verified the accusation, and immediate action was taken. This individual employee was immediately terminated and referred to law enforcement officials.

I am completely confident in the care and the attention to student safety afforded by Mrs. Pierce and the faculty/staff at Ellijay Elementary School. I do believe this to be an isolated incident, and I will certainly continue to monitor all of the classrooms, and Teacher/Student interactions, that transpire daily.