Randi Nicole Staples is a 2nd-grade teacher who was arrested for violently beating up a 12-year-old student, find out more about her and the incident below
The disturbing incident took place in Alabama and left parents and educators, as well as social media users across the country, in deep shock.
Who is Randi Nicole Staples as video of second grade teacher beating her child goes viral
NEW: Second-grade teacher arrested after video shows her hitting her 12-year-old child at least 22 times with a belt-like strap
Randi Nicole Staples, 44, was arrested after a sibling in the home recorded the incident and sent the video to an older sibling who posted it online… pic.twitter.com/bO3iZItowF
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) November 20, 2025
Meet 44 year old Nicole Staples.
She was arrested and fired from her job after her other son posted this video of her be*ting her other son with a belt for not cleaning up after himself.
She was released from jail Wednesday evening after posting a $7,500 bond. pic.twitter.com/t3m3DbcG5k
— Brandon (@LibOrNormal) November 20, 2025
While the original video circulated briefly and was subsequently taken down, the damage was already done, and the clip had gone viral, sparking widespread outrage.
2nd-grade teacher Randi Nicole Staples arrested
Authorities have arrested 44-year-old 2nd-grade teacher named Randi Nicole Staples after a video of her striking her 12-year-old child 22 times in just 14 seconds went viral. Upon investigations, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Staples is the child’s mother, and that another child recorded the footage before sending it to an older sibling, who then shared it online. Authorities took Staples into custody and booked her into the Mobile Metro Jail shortly after the video spread. The shocking video of the incident shows her hitting the child with a belt or strap before lifting him by his hair while yelling profanities.
Charges and allegations
Following the arrest, Randi Nicole Staples currently faces a felony charge of willful abuse of a child under 18. Sheriff Paul Burch described the footage as “repulsive” and stated that the behavior “went well beyond discipline” and into clear abuse. In response to the findings, Cottage Hill Christian Academy has seemingly terminated her employment.
This woman was apparently arrested. Good. https://t.co/7gPyMEWww4
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) November 20, 2025
Reactions from netizens
The online response erupted immediately. One user wrote:
This is beyond discipline. It’s cruelty, plain and simple.”
Another user posted:
How does someone like this teach kids for a living?”
A third user commented:
Teacher of the Year? This is terrifying.”
Meanwhile, a fourth viewer added:
If the video hadn’t surfaced, who knows how long this would’ve continued.”
Randi Nicole Staples biography and age
Randi Nicole Staples is a 44-year-old woman from Mobile, Alabama, who was recently arrested following a video of her brutally beating up her son with a belt. Before the incident, she enjoyed a strong reputation within her school community and was a recipient of the Teacher of the Year award. Although the exact details of her husband and children’s identities remain publicly unavailable, Randi likely has at least three children, including the child being beaten, the sibling who filmed it, and the older sibling who shared it.
Teaching career
Randi Nicole Staples is a 2nd-grade teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy, a role in which she is highly dedicated and well-liked. Randi was reportedly recognized as a hardworking and well-performing teacher, who even won the Teacher of the Year award in May, according to the school’s Facebook page. However, that perception of her now stands in stark contrast to her behavior captured in the video.
ALSO READ: Who is Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg reporter called ‘piggy’ by Donald Trump