Nationwide — Tiphanee Lee, an African American mother from Louisville, Kentucky, is seeking answers after alleging her 7-year-old non-verbal autistic son faced abuse at school. She says a hidden recording device she placed in her son’s hair revealed an alleged classroom abuse incident.
According to News One, Lee said that staff at Field Elementary School repeatedly reported severe behavioral issues involving her son, Semaj. She said those reports did not match what she observed at home, where he did not show similar behavior, which raised her concerns.
After months of confusion, Lee placed a small recording device inside her son’s ponytail before sending him to school. She said she took the step to understand what was happening during the school day.
Footage reportedly obtained by local outlets shows Semaj sitting quietly in the classroom before a staff member leaves the room. Another staff member then appears to address him in a raised and aggressive tone.
The recordings allegedly include phrases such as “Get off me, boy,” “Get over here,” and “Go away.” Lee said the interaction escalated quickly and appeared to trigger distress in her son.
Semaj is then seen reportedly stimming by clapping before screaming, which Lee said is a sign of overwhelm. The recordings also reportedly capture the staff member telling the child, “I’m not playing with you no more,” followed by shouting, “Get out of here,” that leads to the boy crying and yelling.
Jefferson County Public Schools confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, with district police and Child Protective Services involved. Reports also state that the staff member seen in the recording has been removed from Field Elementary while the case is reviewed.
Lee said she believes her son was harmed and is calling for full accountability from the school. She also alleged the recordings captured staff discussing marijuana and edibles in the classroom, and is pushing for a complete review of how the situation was handled.