St. Paul teacher says student pushed her over cellphone

A substitute teacher in St. Paul says she was repeatedly pushed by a seventh-grade student after she took his cellphone when he refused to put it away.

Candice Egan tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that she was teaching at Creative Arts High School when the attack happened Tuesday. She says the student used both hands and slammed her backward more than once.

Egan says she has had shoulder and neck pain since the assault. Police said on Friday that they are investigating.

St. Paul Public Schools has been working on safety issues this year. At least two teachers have been hospitalized after assaults by students.

A task force will meet over the summer to consider changes to discipline policies.