Ex-behavioral specialist at South Waco Elementary charged with injury to a child

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A former behavioral specialist with the Waco Independent School District who worked at South Waco Elementary was charged after she kicked a six-year-old boy, a criminal complaint affidavit states.

Amanda Beverly, 42, was arrested and booked into the McLennan County Jail on Dec. 11 on a third-degree felony charge of injury to a child, according to the affidavit and online jail records.

According to the document, Beverly kicked the boy in the upper leg-lower waist area. “The victim was kicked hard enough that he had to take two steps back,” police wrote in the affidavit.

The boy reportedly suffered pain as a result of the assault, the document alleges.

Beverly’s bond amount is not yet listed online.

South Waco Elementary is located at 2104 Gurley Lane.

No further information was provided in the affidavit.

FULL STATEMENT FROM WACO ISD:

“Waco ISD’s absolute top priority is, and always will be, the safety and well-being of our students. It is the expectation for all employees across the district that they uphold the highest standards of safety, support, and respect for every child in our care.

“On November 18, 2025, the district initiated an investigation into a serious personnel matter involving allegations that a teacher responded inappropriately to a child while at South Waco Elementary school.

“The district’s expectation is clear: at no point in time should an employee correct student behavior in a way that causes harm or pain to a child.

“In coordination with law enforcement partners, and following a thorough investigative report from the Children’s Advocacy Center, it was determined that criminal charges for injury to a child would be filed.

“The teacher involved in this incident is no longer employed by Waco ISD.”

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