Nationwide — Linda Sturdivant, an African American special education teacher from Henry County, Georgia, was found not guilty of assault charges involving students after a jury cleared her of all allegations. The verdict ended a case that accused her of harming children with special needs at Stockbridge Elementary School.
A Henry County jury found her not guilty on all 13 counts of simple battery after a trial involving accusations that she physically assaulted several special education students. Sturdivant, who previously worked as a social worker before becoming a teacher, denied the allegations.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the case began after authorities arrested Sturdivant in December 2024 over claims that she assaulted students in August 2024 while working at the elementary school. Court records alleged that multiple children with special needs were involved.
The allegations drew attention from families and the local community. Portia Blanco, whose nonverbal child was named as one of the alleged victims, previously said school officials and law enforcement did not notify her about the investigation until two months after Sturdivant’s arrest.
Following the verdict, Sturdivant said she felt relieved and became emotional in court. “There were some happy, happy tears,” she said after the jury cleared her of the charges.
Sturdivant continued to maintain that she did not know what happened and said her classroom faced major staffing and organizational challenges at the time. She also credited her attorneys for pointing out what she described as inconsistencies during the trial.
“I wanted a jury trial because I just believe that to get this case in front of a jury, just regular folks like myself to hear that they would hear the truth,” Sturdivant said.
She also defended her actions as a teacher and said she never harmed the children in her care. “Your children were never harmed, never harmed under my supervision,” she said.
Although the acquittal clears Sturdivant to pursue future teaching opportunities, she said she will not return to the Henry County School System. She is also considering filing a lawsuit over the personal and financial effects of the case.
“It affected every area of my life. Career-wise. And, I lost my job as a result of that,” Sturdivant said, adding that the experience also affected her finances and mental health.