Duval High teacher investigated for alleged assault on student

A DuVal High School staff member was removed from the classroom after an allegation of inappropriate physical contact with a student on school grounds, triggering a Prince George’s County Police Department investigation and a district response centered on student safety and staff accountability.

Principal Dr. Denice Nabinett said the school treated the matter as a serious incident and placed the employee on administrative leave immediately. She said Prince George’s County Public Schools had zero tolerance for violence or misconduct and was offering support to students who may need help processing what happened. Families with concerns were directed to Nabinett’s office at 301-918-8600 or by email at denice.nabinett@pgcps.org.

The incident puts a spotlight on how Prince George’s County Public Schools handles boundary violations inside its buildings. Administrative Procedure 4219 says employees are expected to maintain courteous and professional relationships with students and to keep physical and emotional boundaries in place. Board Policy 4400 says violations can lead to discipline up to and including termination, notification of Child Protective Services, a police report and possible certificate suspension or revocation.

DuVal High, at 9880 Good Luck Road in Lanham, serves grades 9 through 12 and is one of the county’s larger high schools. One current school profile lists enrollment at 2,484 students. PGCPS describes the school as a community school with an aerospace and aviation program, and says its school performance plan is meant to be a transparent, collaborative effort focused on student achievement.

The investigation comes as parents across Lanham-Seabrook and the wider Prince George’s County community look to the school system for a clear response when allegations involve adults entrusted with children during the school day. In cases like this, the first question is not only what happened, but how quickly administrators moved to separate the employee from students, whether district rules were followed and what support is being offered to those affected.

County police are handling the case while the school keeps the staff member out of the building. For families at DuVal, the episode raises immediate concerns about trust, supervision and the protections in place when a report involves a teacher or staff member and a student inside a public school.