A cheerleader has shared her experience with a coach whose actions were described as ‘malicious’, resulting in the team suffering from ‘burning’ hands.
Thirteen cheerleaders from Evans Middle School in Lubbock, Texas, sustained first and second-degree burns on their hands during a session, prompting the school to initiate an investigation.
The incident occurred on Wednesday (October 9) when the school’s cheerleading ‘red’ team was reportedly subjected to a ‘punishment’ session by their coach around 2:00pm.
According to reports, the cheerleaders were required to perform ‘bear crawls’ and ‘crab walks’ on a hot outdoor track, which a parent claimed had reached a temperature of at least 125 degrees. This was allegedly in response to them performing cheer at a football game against their coach’s wishes.
The coach is also accused of threatening the girls’ future prospects if they did not comply with her demands.
A cheerleader, who preferred to remain unidentified, informed Everything Lubbock that the team alerted their coach about their ‘burning’ hands, but the coach reportedly responded, ‘she didn’t care’.
“She made us go back down on the track,” they said. “It was malicious. It was intentional.”
Angel Thompson, the mother of one of the cheerleaders, recounted how her daughter disclosed the incident when she picked her up from school.
“I had asked [my daughter], ‘Are you okay? How was school?’” she stated. “She put our stuff down in the car, went to sit down and said, ‘Mom, you want to know how my day was in cheer?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ She told me that they got a punishment, and shows me her hands.”
The school has also addressed the situation.
A representative from Evans Middle School confirmed that the Lubbock ISD administration was ‘aware of an incident at Evans Middle School involving a teacher’s disciplinary method that resulted in several students receiving burns on their hands’.
The spokesperson explained that the students were ‘instructed’ by the teacher to perform ‘bear crawls’ on the track, which had been ‘heated by the day’s high temperatures’, leading to ‘multiple students’ sustaining ‘injuries’.
One cheerleader reportedly required attention from the University Medical Center burn unit.
The spokesperson continued: “We are heartbroken over these events, as the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. This type of incident does not reflect the standards or values of Lubbock ISD and Evans Middle School.
“We are addressing this matter with the utmost urgency and are fully committed to investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The school has initiated an investigation, placing the teacher on ‘administrative leave pending the outcome’.
They stated: “We want to express our deep concern and regret for the pain and distress this has caused the students and their families. No child should ever be subjected to harm in a learning environment, and we are fully committed to ensuring that incidents like this do not happen again.
“Lubbock ISD has policies in place regarding appropriate disciplinary actions, and any deviation from those standards is thoroughly reviewed. We want to assure our community that we are addressing this issue in accordance with district protocols and applicable laws. Our goal is to maintain a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all students.”