The teacher accused of choking her first-grade students for misbehaving offered a sharply different account Wednesday of how she disciplined them.
Montgomery County prosecutors say Susan L. Burke, 36, grabbed the necks of her 6- and 7-year-old students during the 2010-2011 school year at Greencastle Elementary School.
But Burke, who is on trial on second-degree assault charges in Montgomery County Circuit Court, testified that using force wasn’t part of her discipline procedures.
Several students testified this week that Burke became upset when children spoke out in class. When she got angry, Burke would choke them or strike them, according to the students, who said they recalled few other details about the incidents.
Burke said when a student disobeyed a rule, she would first give them a warning. That warning was usually verbal, but if the student, for instance, spoke during a test, she might tap them on the back as a reminder to stay quiet, rather than speaking herself, Burke said.
“It’s enough that I get their attention,” Burke said of the pats, which she described as “light.”
Burke testified that she might also ask a student to write about what they should have done differently, would make them miss an activity or call their parents.
Burke said she had posters in her room that told students what good behavior was and what consequences for breaking the rules included.
Her attorney, Todd Mohink, did not ask her directly whether she choked or otherwise assaulted the students. Burke is expected to continue testifying Thursday morning.
Two educational assistants at the Silver Spring school also testified Wednesday, the first two witnesses for the defense. Both said Burke was a caring instructor who worked well with her students.
“You could tell she genuinely loved her kids,” Ashley Malleck testified. When a child broke a rule, Malleck said, Burke would explain what the student had done wrong.
Malleck said she “not once” saw Burke scream, touch or discipline a child in an inappropriate way.
Another educational assistant, Elizabeth Burroughs, testified that Burke was generally calm in her interactions with students.
Burke had worked for Montgomery County Public Schools since 2001. Before that, she worked in Prince William County.
Burke was placed on leave after she was arrested in February, and no longer works for the school system.
Testimony in the trial is expected to conclude Thursday. Jury deliberations could begin Thursday afternoon.
Examiner intern Leigh Giangreco contributed to this report.
