A Tulsa Public Schools parent says “a culture of abuse and neglect” in the district led to the assault of her child with disabilities. She’s taking the allegations to federal court.
Nicholas Stowell, a now-former TPS employee, already pleaded guilty to felony child abuse for the February 2024 incident at Wayman Tisdale Fine Arts Academy. Court documents show he dragged the 7-year-old child by the arm, slammed him on a bench and put him in a headlock.
Stowell is serving six years of probation and cannot work around or teach students. But the student’s mother, Shanta Isom, says Stowell isn’t the only one to blame.
In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, Isom alleges anti-discrimination and constitutional violations against Stowell and TPS, claiming the district covered up the attack, failed to address harm to the boy and continued to violate his rights as a Black student with disabilities.
The suit claims Isom was not informed of the Friday assault until the following Monday. It also accuses the district of failing to conduct an independent investigation into the assault or report the use of restraint to the state.
“We categorically disagree with the plaintiff’s portrayal of the district, especially the inflammatory allegations made about the care and protection afforded our most vulnerable students,” said Caroline Crouch, spokeswoman for TPS. “Safety is our top priority, and we look forward to responding to these allegations and misrepresentations.”
She encouraged anyone with school safety concerns to report them to the district’s confidential hotline at 918-480-SAFE.
The Flyer confirmed TPS has settled at least four lawsuits since 2017 that allege the use of force or an assault by a school employee against a student. The district is currently involved in a lawsuit alleging a teacher choked a 4-year-old student while waking him up from a nap.
Last May, the district said it plans to redesign its special education services after years of being under state review for noncompliance.
“What happened to this child was egregious, but a symptom of how TPS conducts itself with respect to students with special needs,” said Karin Portlock, an attorney in the case. “Its disregard of its obligations to students with disabilities in general created an environment where this was possible, and where it was enabled.”
The complaint filed Monday alleges continued mistreatment after the assault and a failure on the district’s part to update the child’s special education accommodations, exacerbating his mental health issues.
After a temporary transition to online school, Isom’s lawsuit claims the child returned to Wayman Tisdale at the start of the 2025-26 school year — but after several suspensions for behavioral issues, the district said they could no longer provide the services he needed and initiated a transfer to another TPS school.
The family’s attorneys say the child’s experience is reflective of larger failures within TPS — outlining repeated issues with Individualized Education Plans, suspensions and use of restraints against special education students. Stowell’s abusive act in 2024, the complaint alleges, can directly be tied back to a lack of clarity and guidance at TPS for appropriate discipline.
“As a Black and disabled student in the TPS district, (the child) was not only vulnerable, but he was left unprotected by Defendant TPS’s ineffective policies and inadequate training,” the complaint reads.
Isom declined to be interviewed by the Flyer but said in a statement, “I’m proud to file this lawsuit on behalf of my son and make sure this does not happen to another child.”
This is the second time Isom has sued the district over the incident. The first lawsuit was filed in Tulsa County District Court in May 2025 and seeks $75,000 in damages. The case is ongoing.
Isom’s federal lawsuit requests a jury trial but not a specific amount. The suit claims she is entitled to compensation for physical and emotional injuries, along with attorneys’ fees.
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