Teacher Charged in Assault of Autistic Student

Lynn Shin, a former teacher at Round Rock Head Start, faces misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly tripping a 4-year-old autistic boy in her classroom, an incident that occurred on September 26. The charge stems from Shin's admission, captured in an affidavit, that she intentionally tripped the child after warning him to stop running, which he was doing as a form of 'stimming' to calm himself. Following the incident, which was witnessed by a volunteer, the boy began crying, and his mother reported a concerning change in his behavior. Shin was arrested on December 27 and released on a $15,000 bond, having resigned from her position shortly after the incident. The incident has prompted investigations by local authorities and Child Protective Services, while Shin described her actions as a 'split-second mistake' made out of frustration. The boy's mother has advocated for legal action to prevent Shin from working with children in the future.