ATHENS, Ga. -- An elementary school teacher's aide has been fired after being accused of taping a kindergarten student's mouth shut.
Clarke County Schools spokeswoman Anisa Sullivan Jimenez said the paraprofessional, whose name has not been released, put clear packaging tape on the girl's mouth near the end of the school day on Wednesday at Whitehead Road Elementary School, and the student pulled the tape off herself after a few seconds.
Jimenez said the classroom teacher reported what happened, but didn't actually see the aide put the tape on the girl's mouth because she was working with a small group of students in the room.
Clarke County Superintendent Philip Lanoue called the incident unacceptable and said it won't be tolerated.
The aide was fired on Monday.
The school's principal has been in contact with the kindergartener's parents. Letters were sent home to other parents at the school on Monday.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)