The Wake County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged a Wake County Public School System employee after she was accused of assaulting a special needs student at Carnage Middle School.

Jyl Crockett turned herself in on Thursday, and authorities processed her at the Wake County Detention Center before she posted $2,000 bond.

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An arrest warrant accuses Crockett of kicking a student with a disability in the stomach.

The sheriff’s office said Crockett was working as a special programs instructional assistant at Carnage Middle School in Raleigh.

Court documents show the alleged assault happened on March 13. However, the Wake County Sheriff's Office was not contacted until March 17.

The sheriff’s office said in a news release that Crockett is now a former employee of the school district. Records state that her resignation took place on Wednesday, April 1. She was hired as a special needs instructor in February 2018.  According to her LinkedIn profile, Crockett has held substitute teaching jobs within the Wake County Public School System sporadically since 2004.

WRAL News has asked the Wake County Public School System:

  • Why the district and its employees wait four days to contact law enforcement?
    • Was Crockett working during those four days and up until she resigned on Wednesday?

      The incident is the first criminal charge on Crockett's record in North Carolina.

      In a message sent to families, Carnage Middle said in response to her arrest:

      I want to assure you that the safety of our students and staff members is a top priority. The school system takes seriously its obligation to report potential abuse allegations to law enforcement and has fully cooperated with law enforcement in their investigation. While privacy laws prevent me from providing additional information about the situation, I can share that Ms. Crockett no longer works for the school district.Carnage Magnet Middle School

      Crockett, 57, is charged with one count of assault on an individual with a disability.

      WRAL News did not hear back from Crockett on Friday after calling her, texting her and going to her home.

      Crockett is due in court again on April 30.

      The investigation is ongoing.

      Other instances of violence involving Wake County employees

      The Wake County Public School System has a history of employees abusing students.

      It includes James Rencher, who was found guilty in November 2024 on six counts of assaulting persons with disabilities. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to undergo treatment for anger management.

      Here are a few other instances of Wake County employees charged with assault of students: