Photo by Knox County Schools
Ken Davis, Knox County Schools
A Knox County teacher remains on the job after he was attacked by a student on Monday.
Knox County Schools said Powell High School teacher Ken Davis was assaulted by a 15-year-old boy at the school on Monday while he was taking the student to the principal's office.
Two other students were present, but it is unclear if they were involved in the incident.
Davis was treated and released from the hospital that evening, and returned to work on Tuesday.
The student, a sophomore, was arrested and taken to juvenile court. What charges he will face, if any, will not be decided until the investigation is complete.
Davis' former student, Senior Emaleigh Sams, said his injuries were still visible on Wednesday.
"You could tell he got hit. When I talked to him, you could see scratch marks. He looked rough," Sams said.
It's a sight that upset her. "I have a lot of respect for him. He's a really great teacher and a great person too," Sams said.
Knox County School's Chief Security Officer, Steve Griffin, said two school resource officers are assigned to Powell High School and there is a security plan in place.
"As soon as they knew there was an altercation taking place, they responded and the altercation itself was over very quickly," Griffin said.
Griffin says he sees assaults on teachers too often.
"Off the top of my head, we have physical assault to staff maybe half a dozen times a year," he said.
He says that number hasn't increased but hasn't improved either in his 24 years with the school system. Prevention, Griffin believes, starts with parents.
"Talk to your student about what they see and what they hear at school everyday. If they see or hear anything that could hurt somebody, tell a teacher, counselor or administrator. That way we can intervene," he said.