Lisa Jacobs, a 44-year-old pre-kindergarten teacher from St. Ambrose Catholic School in Godfrey, Illinois, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery after she was accused of harming one of her three-year-old students. Godfrey sits about 30 miles north of St. Louis, right near Illinois’ southwest border.
According to documents obtained by media, Jacobs allegedly picked up the child on December 3, 2024, then dropped her from about five feet in the air.
The girl was hurt as a result. As soon as the incident came to light, Jacobs was placed on administrative leave. The very next day, December 4, she resigned from her teaching position.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to media that Jacobs was taken into custody, booked, and later released.
They didn’t provide any information about her bail. She now faces felony battery charges and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on December 13.
In response to the situation, Father Steven Janoski, the pastor overseeing St. Ambrose Catholic School, wrote a letter to the families of the school’s students and members of the parish.
He explained that the school’s principal, Robert Baird, learned about the troubling incident and immediately put Jacobs on administrative leave while the matter was investigated.
The pastor noted that Baird met with the child’s parents and kept them informed about the steps the school was taking.
He also mentioned that both the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Child Protective Services are involved in looking into what happened.
This shocking event has left many in the community upset and concerned as they wait to see what the court will decide. In the meantime, school officials have made it clear that keeping children safe remains their top priority.
