Teacher arrested for abusing student at Summerlin neighborhood school

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A teacher at a Summerlin area school was arrested Friday for allegedly abusing a student last month, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.

LVMPD took a report on April 1 "alleging a student had been abused by a teacher at a learning institute" on Hillpointe Road, near Rampart and Lake Mead boulevards, the news release states.

Detectives arrested the suspected teacher, 33-year-old Eryka Westover, on Friday, May 17. No further details on the investigation were disclosed.

She was booked into Clark County Detention Center on a charge of felony child abuse or neglect. A warrant return hearing is scheduled for May 18, and the warrant carries an "own recognizance release," court records state.

The name of the school where Westover teaches and the location of the incident were not included in the press release, but court records listed that she must stay away from Shenker Academy, a private preschool on Hillpointe, as a condition of her release.

Shanker Academy provided a statement to families:

Dear Shenker Academy Community:

Today, Shenker Academy’s leadership was made aware of the recent arrest of a former Shenker Academy staff member, following the announcement made by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

We take these allegations very seriously. The teacher accused was placed on administrative leave immediately after the Board was notified of these accusations and her employment has been terminated.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. Our leadership and staff will continue to cooperate with the authorities to support their investigation and ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and community members. We are committed to maintaining a secure and nurturing environment for all our students and staff.

We understand the concern this situation has caused and are taking steps to address it comprehensively. The Shenker Academy faculty remain dedicated to supporting our students and their families during this time.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time.

News 3 has reached out to Shenker Academy for comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.