Charter school teachers quit over alleged physical, verbal abuse by students

BURTON, MI — A downstate charter school that Northern Michigan University is responsible for has teachers resigning over threats and violent acts by its students.

Burton Glen Academy had five teachers quit in a two-week time period. One teacher, who was interviewed by ABC affiliate WJRT, turned in her classroom keys seven weeks into the school year.

The teacher, who asked to not be shown on camera, says students, from first to eighth grade, verbally abuse teachers, constantly fight and are acting out of control.

“I know at least three of us had death threats from the kids,” the teacher said. “I would hold it together and I would leave and cry in my car at the end of the day,” she added.

Northern Michigan University is responsible for ten charter schools, including North Star Academy in Marquette and Hannahville Indian School in Wilson. NMU did provide us a statement about the current situation at Burton Glen Academy.

“Northern Michigan University is aware that there has been some teacher attrition at Burton Glen Charter School Academy. The details concerning the reasons or rational for leaving employment at the academy are not directly reported to Northern Michigan University.

Northern Michigan University is aware that there have been a number of student behavioral issues at the academy that have been of concern by the academy leadership and the university.

The Northern Michigan University Charter Schools Office is in the process of reviewing the current situation and school environment at the academy by performing site visits to make future decision and determinations concerning the status of the academy.” -Bill Pistulka, Charter Schools Officer, Northern Michigan University

(Image/Video provided by WJRT)