Teacher Accused Of Cutting Student's Hair

[Twisp]

Not sure if this has been posted or not.

HOUSTON -- A teacher has been accused of cutting a student's hair during class, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Emily Garcia, 14, said the teacher blatantly ignored her religious beliefs.

"It's unique to me. It's what I'm known for," Emily said. "No one in school has hair like mine."

Her mother, Sara Garcia, braids Emily's hair every morning.

"It's never been trimmed," said Garcia. "Even as a baby, nothing."

"My friends ask, does it bother me?" said Emily. "I say, 'You get used to it.'"

As a Pentecostal, not cutting her hair part of Emily's religion.

"This is something, a promise my daughter made to God, not to cut her hair," said Garcia.

Emily said her math teacher, Kerry Sorenson, would not let her keep that promise.

"She always told me, since school started, she wanted to cut it. She didn't like it," said Emily.

Emily said Sorenson cut her hair during math class at Grantham School for Engineering at about 2 p.m. Wednesday.

"She just snipped it off," said Emily. "She started to laugh. I started to cry."

Emily estimated that about 7 inches were cut.

"I can't believe she cut my daughter's hair," said Garcia. "I never even touched it."

Aldine Independent School District officials said they are investigating the allegation. Sorenson has been directed to not report to school until the investigation is completed, officials said.

Garcia said she wants more.

"I want answers. I want to know why," she said.

Aldine ISD officials said Sorenson has worked for the district for 18 years, and they have never had any problems with her in the past.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/16211187/detail.html