After a vicious attack on school property, a North Texas assistant principal is speaking out about the incident that left her blind in one eye. Candra Rogers was allegedly assaulted by a student in a classroom at Collins Intermediate School in Corsicana on August 15. She was injured so severely that she had to be airlifted to a hospital in Dallas.
Rogers addressed the media in a news conference on August 27 and detailed the horrendous attack. She was allegedly called to a classroom about a fight in progress and ended up getting hit in the eye with a hanger. Now, she's calling on state leaders to step in and help fund important programs in schools to keep teachers and students safe.
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Rogers was doing her duty.
During the news conference, Rogers spoke of the terrifying ordeal. Her right eye was swollen shut as she spoke. She responded to a classroom after a report of students fighting. When she arrived, a student threw a chair at her that she was able to block, but she was not successful in stopping the hanger. It hit her in the eye and "knocked it out of the socket," she said.
"I grabbed my face while blood was pouring out of my head and stumbled out of the classroom door," Rogers told the media.
She was flown to Dallas for immediate medical attention.
Rogers' injury was so severe that she was left blind in her right eye, which is likely permanent. She may end up losing her eye completely if the injury cannot be treated as it heals.
"I am still believing God for a miracle for restoration of my sight," she said.
Rogers believes in public education.
During the news conference, she said she has made a career in education and believes in the importance of public education for everyone. She added that no teacher should have to worry about their safety at work.
"We should never have to fear being in a classroom with an aggressive student," she explained.
She appealed to the governor for help.
"Overly aggressive students need services to meet their needs, but I do not believe the safety of other students and the educational staff should suffer," she added.
Rogers said Governor Greg Abbott failed teachers by refusing to increase public school funding despite a budget surplus.
"The collateral damage of Governor Abbott's choices include but are not limited to academic struggles, student discipline struggles, teacher retention challenges, stifling program advancements, loss of student enrichment programs, lessening of needed student support, erosion of parent and external stakeholder trust, decreased student engagement," she shared during the news conference.
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The Corsicana Independent School District reported the incident to authorities.
Police took a student into custody, and he was barred from school grounds. The Corsicana Independent School District announced in a news release that the incident was referred to the Navarro County District Attorney's Office and charges are expected.
"Our focus remains on Mrs. Rogers, her family, and our students and staff at Collins," CISD Superintendent Stephanie Howell said. "This incident affects our whole district, as well. We want our teachers and staff to feel safe at work, just as we want our students to feel safe in school."
The district declined to release the student's name. "We are not going to shy away from being open to the public, but we are going to follow the law first," Howell added.
