Grace Peterson-Hagendorf, Queens Teacher, Pleads Not Guilty To Charges She Choked Out 6-Year-Old Student

By James King Fri., Mar. 9 2012 at 10:38 AM

www.tiptoptens.com

A 59-year-old Queens teacher is in a bit of trouble, which tends to be the breaks when you allegedly choke out a student...who's only six years old.

Grace Peterson-Hagendorf, a substitute teacher at Public School 22 in Flushing, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that she choked out a 6-year-old student in a classroom earlier this week.

According to the Queens County District Attorney's Office, Peterson-Hagendorf was filling in for a teacher who was called away to a meeting on Wednesday morning.

When the teacher returned to the classroom, about two hours later, a 6-year-old student immediately approached her crying her eyes out.

The girl told the teacher that Peterson-Hagendorf had "pushed her from behind and, grabbing her neck, pinched and twisted it," Queens County District Attorney Richard Brown.

The girl, in pain, according to Brown, was taken to a Queens hospital with redness, swelling, and a large welt on her neck.

Peterson-Hagendorf was arrested later that day.

"Schools are meant to be safe learning environments for their students," Brown says. "It is therefore difficult to comprehend that a teacher could lose all self-control and physically attack a young student in front of a room full of her friends and classmates. If the allegations prove true, the defendant must accept responsibility for her actions."

Attempts this morning to reach Peterson-Hagendorf's attorney, Michael Spiegel, were unsuccessful.

Peterson-Hagendorf's been charged with one count each of second-and-third-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree harassment.

If convicted, Peterson-Hagendorf faces up to seven years in prison. She was released on her own recognizance yesterday. Her next court date is scheduled for April 2.

Tags:

assault, endangering the welfare of a minor, grace peterson-hagendorf, queens, queens county district attorney's office, richard brown

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Jchun1015

She was my child's teacher at a different school in Queens. She has her favorite and not so favorite student just like any other teacher but she shows it with BIG difference. She yell, scream and use very harsh words. She tends to do this to younger students.

Gro27

Did you file a complaint ? Because if a teacher used harsh words at my son I'd be at the school ASAP filing a complaint ;-)

Eleanor

I doubt this is the first time she did anything so stupid.

charles

She's done shit to me, Finally her bitch ass went to jail. She's pulled me by the ear. My mom thought I was lying to get out of school. I didn't she deserves to lose her teaching privileges and go to jail.

Gro27

And what schools was this at ?

Gro27

She was my sons teacher and No she never ever did anything like that even when my child drove her crazy she never yelled or put a finger on him . Did you ever stop and think that maybe the child is not telling the truth ? Innocent until proven Guilty .

Eleanor

I do my best not to think too much.

Why would the kid make up a story like that? Something obviously happened. Sometimes personalities just don't click and maybe this was one of those times.

Gro27

Yes Ma'am I have met her when my son was in elementary school she was his substitute teacher on many occasions my son is a very smart kid but talks a lot and admitted to me that he drove her crazy and that she never yelled at him or put a finger on him . I asked him what did she do when he would talk a lot and not listen he told me that she would tell him if he didn't behave she would call his parents . I really don't think she would ever hurt a child I don't believe its in her nature but we shall see . It's very sad but as for the child I pray that she is ok and I pray that nothing is happening in her home .

Eleanor

Do you know her or are you her?

I absolutely agree innocent until proven guilty. Yes the truth does need to come out. Sombody did something to hurt and scare this child.

Gro27

Maybe something happened in the child's home who knows ;-( Kids make up stories all the time unfortunate but true. Are you a parent ? Have you ever caught your child in a lie ? And as for the media some say she shoved the child ,some say she choked the child ;-( It just doesn't make any sense but hopefully the full True Story will come out ;-) But like I said before she is Innocent until proven guilty in a court of Law ;-)