Visalia teacher accused of forcibly cutting kid's hair in class while singing 'Star Spangled Banner' charged with six misdemeanors
VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Visalia high school teacher has been charged with six misdemeanors after forcibly cutting a student's hair in class. Video surfaced Wednesday showing 52-year-old Margaret Gieszinger chasing students with scissors between desks while belting out the "Star Spangled Banner" at University Preparatory High School.
The video continues to show Gieszinger grabbing at another girl's hair before everyone makes a run for it out of the classroom.
RELATED: Boy who had hair forcibly cut 'absolutely terrified', may sue Visalia teacher, says lawyer
On Friday, Gieszinger was charged with two counts of battery, two counts of willful cruelty to a child, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of assault.
Geiszinger was also scheduled to be released Friday after she posted $100,000 bail. Under the terms of her release, she must stay 100 yards away from University Preparatory High School, which is located on the campus of College of the Sequoias.
Days before the strange episode in the classroom of Margaret Gieszinger, the teacher who forcibly cut a student's hair, students say the science teacher was already showing signs of odd behavior.
RELATED: Teacher had meltdown in class days before scissors incident, say students
On Thursday, the Tulare County Office of Education released a statement saying that Gieszinger will not return to her classroom at UPHS, where she has worked since August of this year.
If convicted on all charges, Gieszinger faces up to 3 years, 6 months in jail.
This story will be updated.
