Prince William County preschool teacher hits, injures 3-year-old student, officials say

A Manassas, Virginia preschool teacher is on leave after Prince William County police said she hit a three-year-old boy inside a classroom in late October.

Ellis Elementary School teacher Sophie Mihyun Choi, 44, was charged on Nov. 14 after the boy told school officials he received a forehead injury from an encounter on Oct. 29, leaving him with a minor mark, according to a statement.

"This is a serious issue, but we do not believe that this isolated incident is reflective of the great work being accomplished every day by our school team," Prince William County Public Schools officials wrote in a statement Friday.

Choi was issued a court summons at her Centreville home Thursday and charged with assault and battery, police said.

Prince William County Public Schools officials said the parents of children in Choi's class were notified and officials also sent a letter on Friday. Read that letter below:

I am writing to let you know that the Prince William County Police will be releasing information about the arrest of Sophie Choi, a preschool teacher here at Ellis, on a charge of assault and battery of a student. The child's parents and parents in the child's class have been notified.

The employee is on leave. Please note that this is a personnel matter that will follow due process, and by law, I cannot provide further details.

Safety is our top priority at Ellis, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for every student. This is a serious issue, but we do not believe that this isolated incident is reflective of the great work being accomplished every day by our school team.

As always, I encourage you to talk with your students about what is happening in school. Should they ever feel unsafe at school or witness any concerning event, they should report it to you or a trusted adult as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support.