A tenured teacher in the Morris School District has been terminated after an arbitrator ruled she engaged in “conduct unbecoming a teaching staff member” by confining a student in her classroom and striking him.
The teacher, Hui-Tzu (Isabella) Chen, was accused of preventing a 14-year-old Morristown High School student from leaving her classroom on March 13, 2024, according to the New Jersey Department of Education.
Chen was fired last week after the state education department issued an opinion supporting the Morris School District’s allegations, following October hearings. No criminal charges have been filed as a result of the allegations.
The incident allegedly began when Chen demanded the student redo a worksheet she suspected he had copied from a classmate in her Mandarin language class. When the student attempted to leave for lunch, Chen blocked the door, struck his forearm, and called him a liar, according to testimony.
The student summoned a classmate and a school resource officer for help. Witnesses, including the SRO and the student’s peer, testified that Chen physically and verbally confronted the student and initially refused to unlock the classroom door.
The Morris School District cited multiple policy violations in its tenure charges, including improper use of force, failure to create a safe learning environment, and unprofessional conduct.
During an administrative meeting, Chen admitted to blocking the door but denied any intent to harm the student. However, she demonstrated the act and expressed no remorse, officials said.
“Despite the wrongful confinement, physical assault, and verbal abuse, Chen refused to acknowledge the severity of her actions,” arbitrator James McKeever wrote in his decision, dated Jan. 6. “Her conduct undermined the district’s commitment to student safety and mutual respect.”
Board of Education Policy No. 3217, “Use of Corporal Punishment,” states the district “cannot condone an employee’s use of force or fear in the treatment of pupils, even those pupils whose conduct appears to be open defiance of authority,” the decision states.
“Each pupil is protected by law from bodily harm and from offensive bodily touching,” the decision states.
McKeever concluded that Chen’s lack of remorse made it unlikely she could return to teaching without repeating the misconduct. The decision upheld the district’s request to revoke her tenure and terminate her employment.
Chen, who had taught in the district since 2017, previously faced disciplinary action for allegedly mocking a student’s weight. She argued in her defense that the March 2024 incident was an isolated lapse in judgment and that she did not intentionally strike the student.
NorthJersey.com, which first reported Chen’s termination, noted she was suspended without pay after charges were filed on June 12, 2024. Under state law, Chen’s pay was reinstated after 90 days while the suspension remained in effect until she was terminated last week, according to the report.
Chen did not immediately respond Tuesday to an email and phone message seeking comment on the decision.
Public records show Chen, an Essex County resident, worked as a Chinese language teacher for Tenafly High School from Dec. 5, 2016, to Oct. 22, 2017, when she was hired in Morris County.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
