schools
Teachers say they’re being bitten, headbutted and bruised while trying to manage classrooms
By Kate Raphael | Long Beach Post at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· June 30, 2026
· 7 min read
Lisa Just looks out the back window of her Torrance home. She used to teach in the Long Beach Unified School District.(Thomas R. Cordova / Long Beach Post)After more than a decade teaching in special education settings, Lisa Just was well-practiced at managing her Carver Elementary classroom in a...
Key takeaway She used to teach in the Long Beach Unified School District.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The alarming rise in injuries to Long Beach Unified educators highlights the need for increased support and resources for special education settings in Los Angeles County schools. As the number of reported incidents grows, so does the concern for teacher safety and well-being. The fact that 72 LBUSD workers reported severe injuries in the 2024-25 school year, a significant increase from three years prior, suggests a pressing issue that requires attention from local education officials. The financial burden of these incidents is also noteworthy, with the total medical costs incurred by student-related claims increasing substantially. To address this trend, local schools may need to reassess their approaches to managing behavioral needs and providing a safe environment for both students and staff. This could involve investing in additional training for educators, hiring more support staff, and developing strategies to prevent and respond to violent outbursts.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 7 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Lisa Just looks out the back window of her Torrance home. She used to teach in the Long Beach Unified School District.(Thomas R. Cordova / Long Beach Post)After more than a decade teaching in special education settings, Lisa Just was well-practiced at managing her Carver Elementary classroom in a...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kate Raphael | Long Beach Post at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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