Hoxsie TA let go after viral video outburst

By ETHAN HARTLEY
Posted 1/22/19

By ETHAN HARTLEY A teaching assistant who worked in special education for Hoxsie Elementary School was relieved of her position after a unanimous vote by the Warwick School Committee during an executive session meeting Friday afternoon. The decision to

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Hoxsie TA let go after viral video outburst

Posted

A teaching assistant who worked in special education for Hoxsie Elementary School was relieved of her position after a unanimous vote by the Warwick School Committee during an executive session meeting Friday afternoon.

The decision to remove Kerry Thibault, a 43-year-old Warwick resident, came after a video surfaced on Facebook Monday, Jan. 14 that went viral and showed a woman in a heated altercation with a young man while in line to place bets at Twin River Casino in Lincoln.

The video begins with the woman, quickly identified in the comment section as Thibault, holding a lit lighter up to the young man’s face, who swipes the flame away in a defensive motion and tells Thibault not to touch him.

“You're disrespecting, like your daddy disrespected your mama,” Thibault said to the man moments later, while holding up her middle finger, before swatting a piece of paper out of his hands.

“I will rip your [expletive] piece of paper like your report card,” she said.

The young man returns some choice words to Thibault but mostly maintains his composure as the two continue to spar, with Thibault eventually throwing a confusing, derogatory comment his way.

“Is anybody going to call security for a piece of [expletive] Brazilian? Go back to Mexico,” she said.

The video was posted by the young man’s mother, which had reached 310,000 views as of Monday morning. Over 650 comments from people all over the Internet captured a sense of outrage that Thibault was employed by a school and shocked at her vocal outburst. Thibault was also present in the comment section doubling down on her actions.

“I am proud to say anyone who has any questions regarding this incident, please feel free to contact me…especially his so well deserved mom...so she can actually see what time [sic] of sinful son she did raise,” her first comment reads, along with her personal phone number. “…and as an advocate of children for 35 years, I have never been so humiliated by anyone so ignorant and disrespected.”

A second comment sparked more outrage at how she described her job working with special needs children at school and defending her actions and words as not being motivated by race. It also touched on a possible cause for the commotion, as she mentions being given a hard time because she was a fan of the New England Patriots.

“I get paid to be disrespected by children who has [sic] special needs,” the comment reads. “As a strong, Irish Catholic woman, I actually get paid to distinguish the difference between racism/prejudice, but I do not get paid to take crap for ignorant kids who are [expletive] because I like the Patriots. You [sic] lucky I only called security and walked away like the lady my mom raised me, because I am a professional trying to bet on my Patriots.”

Superintendent Philip Thornton said after the conclusion of the meeting on Friday that he felt the decision to remove Thibault, in light of reviewing the video that he deemed “deeply disturbing,” was in the best interest of the district.

Rosa Andrade, a Pawtucket resident and mother of the man in the video, expressed joy on her own Facebook page in light of learning about Thibault’s dismissal.

“I still can’t believe she thinks what she did is normal, well I’m proud of the school department for taking the right action in this matter,” she wrote.

Thibault did not respond to a request for comment by press time after responding that she would have to consult with her attorney earlier on Monday.

Comments

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  • Cat2222

    It is rather amazing that people still act out knowing a phone is always just a second away from being in someone's hand and a finger hitting record.

    Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    beware of whats you say even ifs you is on your own properties or even in your own homes. the man records everything and you will gets you fired. da first ammendment is dead and da second is on life support

    Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Report this

  • ajm1171

    Based on your screen name, I can't tell if you're serious or trolling BUT the 1t Amendment is not dead - you can say whatever you want - but like every choice we make in life there a consequences, especially when it's this type of vile nonsense. I won't even comment on your statement on the 2nd Amendment.

    Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Report this

  • bendover

    UMMM....How did this "thing" get hired to be working with kids in the first place? Her conduct would not be acceptable working in the DPW, let alone a school...Someone knew someone in HR?

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    not a troll. her crime was getting caught on camera. there are many people out there with much worse attitudes that are not on tape. you are allowed to speak your mind only if it agrees with the majority. dissenting opinions will be dealt with. this is the message being taught to the students. we are doomed charlie brown. doomed.

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Report this

  • JohnStark

    idiot: Have you seen the video!? "...speak your mind...? Really? This woman is vile. The notion that she teaches or even interacts with kids is deeply troubling, to say nothing about Warwick taxpayers paying for it. It would be a cheap shot to link her to all the other problems in the Warwick public schools. It does beg the question, however: "How is someone like this allowed to supervise children?"

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Report this

  • JohnStark

    idiot: Have you seen the video!? "...speak your mind...? Really? This woman is vile. The notion that she teaches or even interacts with kids is deeply troubling, to say nothing about Warwick taxpayers paying for it. It would be a cheap shot to link her to all the other problems in the Warwick public schools. It does beg the question, however: "How is someone like this allowed to supervise children?"

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    Cat, well said. It amazes me that cops sometimes do extremely stupid stuff knowing there are cameras everywhere. The Lincoln cop that kicked the seated, handcuffed girl at Twin River and the Providence detective that hit and kicked the handcuffed guy in the parking lot. Every time one of these idiots do something asinine it makes the jobs of the 99% of other cops harder and more dangerous.

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Report this

  • wrkvoter

    looks like the shock value of such vile behavior, is exceeded by the shock value that she was in position of authority of our city children within the elementary schools. the fb poster said she actually lied to security and claimed that brazilian man (who should be commended for keeping cool) was the aggressor. wow

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Report this

  • Cat2222

    I do not think that higher visibility and holding people accountable for their actions is a bad thing. I think there is a very big difference between stating your opinion and making racist comments. What happened here was the latter and most definitely deserved the public and private ramifications. What used to be hidden is now on display for all to see. It should cause all of us (not just teachers, police, etc.) to think twice about what comes out of our mouth and how our words can affect others.

    Thursday, January 24, 2019 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    lets get rids of the potus then. his vile crude behavior and out right racism should mean that he is gone from office correct?

    Thursday, January 24, 2019 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Are you asking me justanidiot? I would answer that he should have never been in there in the first place based on his racist, elitist, dishonest and sexist past.

    You know what scares me even more than Trump? Pence! Him and momma want to make the US of A a christian utopia cult. *Shudder at the thought*

    Thursday, January 24, 2019 Report this

  • Toriann

    it is apparent and obvious that she was drunk.....no one acts like that if not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She probably got the wake-up call to seek help, perhaps rehab and then ongoing support like AA. I can't understand why all the bashing is necessary. Maybe prayer is the best alternative....please be kind to others!

    Thursday, January 31, 2019 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    she wasnt that drunk. you go ahead and pray for her. and I'll pray for the school children who may have been similarly treated in subtle ways...

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this