Alabama teacher arrested and fired after allegedly beating son recorded on camera

 Alabama teacher arrested and fired after allegedly beating son recorded on camera

Nicole Staples fired from Cottage Hill Christian Academy

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Police said a former Alabama teacher was arrested and fired after a video surfaced allegedly showing her hitting her child with a belt more than 20 times.

According to WALA, Randi Nicole Staples, 44, who worked at Cottage Hill Christian Academy, is now charged with intentionally mistreating a child under 18.

"Discipline means taking corrective action. This was much more than that," said Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch. "To grab his hair, yell, and curse at him, the way she did, working for a Christian school, I'm deeply offended. It's very disturbing to see someone do that to their own child."

The station, citing the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, said the alleged mistreatment occurred when the child did not comply with Staples' instructions. According to NBC 15, Burch also said, "It's almost like she has a split personality. Because from everything I've been told, she's a good teacher and well-respected. And yet what happens at home is clearly the opposite."

The Mobile County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "In a video recorded by a family member, Randi Nicole Staples is seen telling her 12-year-old son to lie down on the couch handle inside their home in Grand Bay, Alabama."

The statement further stated, "Staples then allegedly hit her son's buttocks and legs with a belt approximately 20 times, during which the son can be heard pleading with her to stop," and added that deputies "interviewed several witnesses and found that similar behavior had occurred with other children living in the home."

Burch said in a statement, "There is an adult who no longer lives in the home who has provided some important information to the investigation. This is an active investigation and we are continuing to interview other individuals involved." "The remaining children in the home are currently in a safe place, which both parents agreed upon, and that was our first priority. We want to ensure they receive the necessary services moving forward. As this investigation progresses, additional charges may be filed."

The academy, which has two locations in Mobile, told NBC 15 in a statement that it is "committed to providing a safe, caring, and Christ-centered environment for all students," and that, "This commitment guides every action our school takes regarding student welfare and staff behavior."

The statement continued, "On November 19, 2025, school leadership became aware of concerns regarding an elementary teacher's behavior with her minor child at her private home, off-campus. Although the incident did not occur on school property, the nature of the information required immediate administrative action."

It also stated, "Upon learning of the alleged misconduct, the school acted swiftly and forcefully, removing the teacher from her duties and placing her on administrative leave pending a full review." "Following a law enforcement investigation, which determined the teacher had committed misconduct outside of her school responsibilities, she was arrested, and Cottage Hill Christian Academy terminated her employment in accordance with institutional policy." Staples was released from jail on Wednesday after posting a $7,500 bond, WALA reported.