The Marysville teacher, charged with assaulting another woman at a gymnastics practice, has been pulled from the classroom.
Superintendent Diane Allen has placed Bethany J. Perdue, a teacher at the Early College High School, on administrative leave. According to a letter in Perdue’s file, the leave is “pending an investigation into misdemeanor assault charges that were filed against you after an incident on January 10, 2024.”
Perdue, 36, of 15060 Payne Road has been charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault.
According to the letter, dated Jan. 11, the administrative leave was “effective immediately.”
Allen said a disciplinary hearing was held with Perdue Jan. 12 when Perdue signed the letter.
Through the leave, Perdue, who was hired by the district in August 2019, will continue to receive her full pay and any applicable benefits.
“However, while on administrative leave, you are not permitted to be on district property or attend district events without district administration’s written permission,” according to the letter. “You are further directed to have no contact with any district students or employees, except for district administration and any union representative(s).”
Perdue was ordered to surrender her school ID badge and keys. Additionally, the district has disabled her school accounts.
“Failure to abide by these directives may result in the imposition of additional discipline,” according to the letter.
According to court documents, at about 8:21 p.m. Jan. 10, Perdue was at Integrity Athletics, 8185 Business Way in Jerome Township, watching her daughter’s tumbling practice. Perdue’s ex-husband, the father of the child, and his new wife and their two children were also at the facility.
The victim said she was sitting upstairs to the side of the gym when Perdue sat beside her.
According to court documents, the victim told police Perdue “started calling her names.”
The victim got up and went to sit on the other side of the building. She said Perdue followed her so she tried walking down the steps to go outside.
According to court documents, “(the victim) said she told Bethany she was not speaking to her, and then Bethany chest bumped her.”
The victim said she walked outside “and Bethany grabbed her jacket, pushing and yanking her.”
“(The victim) stated Bethany then struck her from behind on the right side of her face,” according to court documents.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said the victim “kept telling her to leave her alone and get away from her.”
The victim said she pushed Perdue away and called 911. She said she turned, tried to walk away and get to her car but before she could get there, “Bethany hit her on her back.”
When deputies and police arrived, they spoke with individuals and witnesses at the scene.
Perdue allegedly told deputies she sat beside the woman to discuss a “no contact order” dictating that child custody exchanges need to happen at a police station.
According to court documents, when the deputy told Perdue about the allegations, “Bethany openly stated, ‘You know what, I pushed her, yes I did.’ Bethany stated, ‘Yes I was in the wrong.’”
“Bethany stated, ‘Yeah I did pull her shirt, and I, she’s not going to have a bruise,’” according to court documents. “Bethany made an open hand striking motion with her right hand and said, ‘I tapped her.’”
According to court documents, the assault “caused minor pain.”
“Based on the investigation the deputies did at the scene, talking to the witnesses, it was determined Mrs. Perdue was the aggressor,” Patton said.
Perdue was arrested and transported to the Tri-County Regional Jail. She was arraigned the next day, paid a $1,500 bond and was released.
She is scheduled to be in Marysville Municipal Court again Thursday to enter a plea on the charge.
If convicted, Perdue could face as many as 180 days in jail.
Additionally, a conviction could mean Perdue would lose her teaching license. Officials from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce did not return messages for comment and clarification on that process.
“We appreciate the community’s understanding as we navigate through this process,” according to a release the district sent parents Jan. 11. “Our focus remains on providing a safe, supportive learning environment for all our students.”