South Jersey music teacher charged with assault on student

LINWOOD — A South Jersey teacher has been suspended without pay after being accused of pulling a chair from under a student.

The Press of Atlantic City reported that Kimberley Peschi, 40, a music teacher at the Bellhaven Middle School in Linwood was charged with cruelty and neglect of children and simple assault for the Feb. 9 incident, in which the student suffered a head injury after hitting the floor.

The report said Peschi has worked for the Linwood district since 1999 and also teaches a yoga class.

According to the district website, Peschi is a graduate of Rider University's Westminster Choir College and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and is the cantor of her church.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.  

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