A Minnesota teacher is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly stepping on a sixth-grade student’s back during a school lockdown drill. Jason Rogers, a teacher at Underwood School in Otter Tail County, is accused of using a student as a “stepping stool” while the child lay on his stomach.
Authorities say the 350-pound educator allegedly confessed to stepping on at least three different students during the February 10 drill. Rogers reportedly became frustrated, believing the students were not taking the security exercise seriously.
According to court documents obtained by the Tri-City Herald, he allegedly told them that if they didn’t sit properly, he could step on them.
One of the students, a sixth grader, was injured and began crying after Rogers allegedly stood on his back for about 10 seconds. The child later told authorities that he had no idea why his teacher stepped on him and that the entire class witnessed the incident. Some students even feared the boy’s back had been broken.
Following the alleged assault, the student’s mother took him to Lake Region Hospital due to severe pain. She later filed a police report, claiming her son was walking “like an 80-year-old” from the injuries. The child was kept out of school for a week to recover.
The school district has placed Rogers on administrative leave while the case unfolds. The criminal complaint states that Rogers admitted to authorities that he was “concerned” after realizing the child was in pain.
Rogers now faces charges of malicious punishment of a child. If convicted, he could face significant legal consequences. Authorities continue to investigate, and school officials have assured parents that student safety remains a top priority.
