Substitute teacher and student face assault charges for fight at Rocky Mount High School

A video that has gone viral shows both arguing in a classroom over the student's confiscated cell phone, which quickly escalated to a physical fight.

According to Nash County Public Schools, the incident occurred between the end of the first period and the start of the Connections Intervention period.

The substitute teacher, identified as Xaviera Steele, and the student have been charged with simple assault.

According to reports, Steele has been with the Nash County Public School System for approximately a year.

She received a written promise to appear in court and was released.

"Why does the rules not apply to everybody else?" said the student. "That's my phone."

The substitute teacher, identified by police as Xaviera Steele, responds, "it does apply to everybody."

"No. You did not keep nobody else phone," said the student, who appears to attempt to grab the phone from the substitute teacher's hand as she's making a phone call.

"Don't touch me," the substitute teacher goes on to say several times. The confrontation then gets physical with the two swinging at each other and the substitute teacher ending up on top of the student.

The substitute teacher has been with the school system for approximately a year. As of Monday afternoon, no charges have been filed.

It's not known what happened in the moments leading up to the video.

NCPS policy states that "if an employee is attacked by a student, the employee has the right to reasonably restrain the student and defend themselves to the point that they are free of the threat or attack." As far as cell phone use goes, the policy code notes that "administrators may authorize individual students to use wireless communication devices for personal purposes when there is a reasonable need for such communication."

No injuries were reported. Police and the school system are investigating.

Substitute teacher Bettie Atcherson spoke with WRAL News about how she approaches tense situations in the classroom.

"As the adult, you have to contain yourself and not let them take you that far," Atcherson said.

If you're kind to kids, even the toughest kids, if you're kind to them and show that you love them are concerned about their well-being ... 9 times of 10, you won't have a lot of problems," Atcherson said. "But there are always exceptions."