‘Teacher of the Year’ accused of punching child in the forehead
A South Carolina special education teacher who was named 2025 Teacher of the Year at her charter school has been arrested for allegedly striking a child.
Erin Wheeler, 34, faces charges of unlawful child neglect in connection with an incident on November 27, according to arrest records obtained by KWQC.
Wheeler, a teacher at Whitmore School in Columbia, is accused of chasing the child into a bathroom and repeatedly punching them in the forehead and upper body. The child reportedly tried to block the blows, sustaining bruises on their arms. Police say the alleged assault did not take place on school grounds.
Wheeler appeared last week in Lexington County court, where a judge set her bond at $2,500 and issued a no-contact order between her and the child. The child’s mother criticized the bond as being too low.
School officials confirmed they are aware of the allegations but said the incident did not involve any of their students. Wheeler has been placed on paid administrative leave while the matter is investigated.
Wheeler had been recognized as Whitmore School’s 2025 Teacher of the Year for her contributions to special education. Executive Director Kim Dunbar praised her “innovative approaches” and said the award recognized her impact on students and the school.
Wheeler earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia College in 2014 and 2017 and began teaching at Whitmore School in 2015. She later enrolled at Arkansas State University to pursue an Education Specialist degree in Administration, focusing on principalship.
Earlier this year, Wheeler highlighted her passion for education on the school’s social media, noting how Whitmore School “empowers students and changes lives.” She said her commitment to special education was inspired by her older sister, who was born deaf.
“I just wanted people to understand that there was not anything wrong with my sister, she just could not hear,” Wheeler said. “Exceptionalities do not make a person helpless, less intelligent, or unworthy of respect.”
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