CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A Ringgold Elementary teacher was indicted on charges of attempted child abuse as well as assault.

According to the indictment obtained by Clarksville Now, a Montgomery County grand jury returned a true bill in June against Lavanda Renee Rife, 50, on charges of attempted child abuse and assault involving “physical contact.” The attempted child abuse charge is a Class E felony, and the assault charge is a Class B misdemeanor.

The indictment alleges that on or about April 10, Rife “did unlawfully, knowingly and other than by accidental means, attempt to treat … a child 8 years of age or less in such a manner as to inflict injury.” It further alleges that she caused “physical contact with (the child), and that a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative.”

Montgomery County indictments are sealed, and there has been no public confirmation on whether the incident involved a student.

CMCSS: Rife on leave during investigation

Clarksville-Montgomery County spokesperson Anthony Johnson confirmed that Rife was hired in June 2022 and was placed on administrative leave on April 6 pending law enforcement investigations. “By law and policy, employees are afforded due process,” he said. “Rife is currently on unpaid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an open DCS investigation, court proceedings, and a pending internal investigation.”

Johnson said CMCSS does not begin its internal investigation until all external investigations have concluded. “For any employee, if there are criminal charges involving child abuse, or a substantiation is upheld by DCS for child abuse, CMCSS will seek to terminate employment,” he said. “For tenured teachers, state law requires written charges of dismissal to be presented to the School Board for approval. If the School Board approves the charges of dismissal, it is then presented to the teacher.”

Johnson said the teacher would have the option to appeal and that there are “several levels of review required by Tennessee law.”

He added due to the active law enforcement investigations, “CMCSS must defer to law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, DCS, and the courts on the details.”

Johnson confirmed that CMCSS has already submitted the initial report regarding a licensed educator under review to the State Board of Education and will submit its final report based upon the outcome of the proceedings.

According to court records, Rife has a settlement hearing scheduled for Nov. 6 at the Montgomery County Courts Center.

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