A former education aide in Texas has been indicted on a charge of injury to a child with intent of bodily injury following allegations that she called a young student 'ugly' and held them upside down by their feet.

Rachel Kirspel, 37, was employed at the Marshall Early Childhood Learning Center in Marshall, a city approximately 150 miles east of Dallas. The alleged incident occurred in May when another employee reportedly heard children screaming from Kirspel's classroom. According to an affidavit, the reporting employee entered the room and observed Kirspel holding a child upside down by their feet and swinging them.

The child's name, age, and gender were not disclosed. The Marshall Early Childhood Learning Center primarily serves three- and four-year-old students.

The co-worker stated that Kirspel also called the child "ugly as hell" and said, "You can tell your mama didn’t raise you right." The child was reportedly crying and screaming.

When confronted by the colleague, Kirspel allegedly righted the child and attempted to resume playing with them. The reporting employee instructed Kirspel to leave the room, after which Kirspel quit her job at the school.

Munford ISD, the school district, issued a statement saying it had followed protocol by referring the incident to Child Protective Services and the Texas Education Agency. The district emphasized its commitment to a safe learning environment and stated that alleged employee actions would not be tolerated.

Following an investigation by the Marshall Police Department, Kirspel was arrested on May 18 and charged with injury to a child with intent of bodily injury, a third-degree felony. Kirspel reportedly told police that she had been trying to get students to lie down for nap time, and one child refused and was acting rambunctiously. She stated she put the child over her shoulder before verbally berating them and hanging them upside down.

Kirspel was booked into the Harrison County Jail and posted a $50,000 bond shortly after her arrest. She was rearrested on May 22 for failing to report to the probation department and remains in jail. Her bond was increased to $100,000.

She was indicted by a grand jury on July 30. Her arraignment hearing was held on August 11, and a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 13, 2026.