{KXLG – Watertown, SD} A teacher at McKinley Early Childhood Center, previously placed on administrative leave following an arrest for simple assault involving a student, has been cleared of charges. Codington County State’s Attorney Alison Bakken confirmed this development.
The initial incident led to the teacher’s arrest and subsequent administrative leave. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen of the Watertown School District had informed parents of the arrest via email, emphasizing the district’s commitment to student safety. The email, sent on January 16th, stated that the teacher was placed on leave pending both an internal investigation and the legal process. At the time, the alleged incident involved a “bruise on the student,” with Dr. Danielsen noting that no other students were believed to be involved.
Following the arrest, the Watertown Police Department stated it would not release any information, deferring to the school district. State’s Attorney Bakken confirmed the arrest of a female individual.
State’s Attorney Bakken told KXLG News that the original charge stemmed from an interview with a single witness; however, the evidence could not be substantiated. The teacher was never alone with the student, and no other witnesses corroborated an incident that could have caused the reported injury.
The Watertown School District has not yet released a statement regarding the teacher’s status with the district following this development.