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ENC teacher charged after video shows her hitting students with an extension cord

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published March 3, 2023 at 6:16 AM EST
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office said Patricia Graham is shown in a video, shot by someone in the classroom on Wednesday, assaulting one of the students with a cord.
(Photo provided by the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office)
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office said Patricia Graham is shown in a video, shot by someone in the classroom on Wednesday, assaulting one of the students with a cord.

An eastern North Carolina high school teacher has been charged with assault after video appears to show the 71-year-old woman hitting two students with an extension cord.

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office said Patricia Graham is shown in a video, shot by someone in the South Lenoir High School classroom on Wednesday, assaulting one of the students with a cord. The students involved are 16- and 17-years-old.

Calling the video deeply disturbing, Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers said his department will not tolerate this type of behavior in schools from people in positions of authority.
Annette Weston
Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston