In a tragic incident on August 15, Candra Rogers, an assistant principal at Collins Intermediate School in Corsicana, Texas, was left blind in her right eye after a student attacked her during a classroom disruption. The 11-year-old student, who had already become violent and attacked another student, escalated the situation by throwing chairs across the classroom.
Rogers, who arrived to de-escalate the situation, was struck by a wooden hanger the student threw. “The hanger hit me in my right eye and knocked it out of the socket,” Rogers recalled during a press conference. Despite efforts to protect herself, the impact caused severe damage, leaving her permanently blind in the affected eye. She was airlifted to a Dallas hospital, where doctors were able to reattach her eye, but the damage was irreversible.
Calls for Change and Accountability
Rogers, who was joined by her husband, Eugene Rogers, at the press conference, spoke passionately about the incident’s impact on her life and the broader implications for school safety. “We should never have to fear being in a classroom with an aggressive student,” she said. Rogers emphasized the need for more services to address the needs of overly aggressive students, but not at the expense of the safety of other students and staff.
In addition to sharing her personal experience, Rogers criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state legislators for failing to increase public school funding. “It is important to point out that the decision to continue funding Texas public schools at 2019 levels in 2024 is a choice,” she said, highlighting the broader consequences of underfunded schools, including issues with student discipline, teacher retention, and decreased student engagement.
The student responsible for the attack has been taken into custody and faces pending charges. Meanwhile, the community has rallied around Rogers, with the school district organizing a fundraiser to support her recovery. Despite the challenges ahead, Rogers remains hopeful, stating, “I am still believing God for a miracle for the restoration of my sight.”