A Gadsden woman with a 26 year teaching career in the state of Georgia has been arrested and reportedly charged with four counts of First Degree Cruelty to Children, for Maliciously Causing Excessive Pain and First Degree Cruelty to Children – in addition to a misdemeanor count of Battery.

58 year old Deborah Alexander Alford – who has worked as a special education teacher for 19 years – has been charged in connection with abusing two students in the classroom.

No information regarding her specific actions is being released at this time.

She was arrested in Gadsden late last week and since been transferred back to Polk County, Georgia.

Alford is currently on administrative leave from Westside Elementary School in Cedartown.

(Rome News-Tribune/www.northwestgeorgianews.com)