An Alexander County Public Schools teacher has been arrested for assault of a handicapped student.

Dottie Lynn Bailey

Dottie Lynn Bailey, age 45, has been charged with misdemeanor assault on a handicapped person. The victim is a student with a disability.

A Class 1 misdemeanor can carry between one to 150 days of “active, intermediate, or community punishment” and may also include a discretionary fine by the court.

Bailey was charged on Jan. 16 after turning herself in to the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office. She was issued a $5,000 secured bond and her next court appearance will be on Feb. 24 in Alexander County District Court.

Police say the alleged incident took place on Dec. 13 of 2019 and that Bailey is accused of “assaulting and striking” the female student “by forcefully grabbing her arm and spanking her bottom.”

News of this incident did not reach the press until Jan. 21, 2020.

According to the school district, Bailey was employed at Hiddenite Elementary School and resigned following her arrest and the beginning of an investigation by the district in December.

According to state law, the circumstances of Bailey’s resignation require the Alexander County School District to report her resignation to the State Board of Education.

“If a teacher who is not recommended for dismissal does resign without giving at least 30 days’ notice, the board may request that the State Board of Education revoke the teacher’s license for the remainder of that school year. A copy of the request shall be placed in the
teacher’s personnel file.

If a teacher’s criminal history is relevant to the teacher’s resignation, regardless of whether the teacher has given at least 30 days’ notice, the board shall report to the State Board of Education the reason for an employee’s resignation.”

Bailey holds an active North Carolina teaching license in the areas of EC Language Arts, EC Social Studies (K-6), EC Science (K-6), Mentally Disabled (K-12), EC Math (K-6), Elementary Education (K-6), Exceptional Children: General Curriculum (K-12).

Unless revoked, Bailey’s license will not expire until Jun. 30, 2024.

Bailey is the fourth teacher arrest recorded by this website in 2020.