Central Islip teacher accused of shoving student

A Central Islip Senior High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of shoving a pupil last month, a spokeswoman for the school district said Thursday.

"A teacher in the high school was accidentally struck by a student's hat last month when the student was walking in the corridor swinging his hat. It was stipulated that the teacher pushed and yelled at the student," said Barbara LaMonica, the spokeswoman, in a statement.

No charges were filed by the Suffolk County Police School Resource Officer, she said, adding that school officials "take every precaution to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff."

The spokeswoman did not identify the teacher.

Nor did Carl Korn, a spokesman for the New York State United Teachers union, who said the matter was being handled at the local level. A local union official was not immediately available, nor was the school superintendent.

"Teachers and their union have no stake in protecting those who hurt children or tarnish the profession," he said.

"We do have a stake in ensuring that anyone charged with wrongdoing receives a fair hearing before an impartial third party. Due process is the foundation of our judicial system," Korn added.