Clovis teacher receives summons

Staff report

A Clovis teacher accused of slapping a Gattis Middle School student in April has been issued a summons by the Clovis Police Department.

Brandi Thomas is scheduled for an Aug. 15 arraignment in magistrate court on a criminal complaint of battery. The misdemeanor charge would be punishable by up to six months in jail, six months probation and a $500 fine.

Thomas, who has since resigned her softball coaching position at Clovis High, was accused of slapping a 13-year-old boy. According to a redacted Clovis police report, the boy’s father told police his son was slapped by Thomas after joking with a classmate about a “lover.”

Following the alleged incident, then-Superintendent Terry Myers said Thomas was disciplined and allowed to return after a two-day paid administrative leave.

Thomas’ attorney, Matt Chandler, said he and his client were informed of the summons on Saturday through the media.

Chandler said video supplied by the school supports his client’s innocence.

“Miss Thomas continues to maintain her innocence that she never battered a student,” Chandler said. “It’s become clear in the administrative proceedings that what she did was call him out in front of his peers for making inappropriate comments about a female student, and that’s essentially it.”