Chester Upland School District President Wanda Mann was cited on Friday for harassing a teacher after the two got into a physical fight at the high school.
The fight happened in the hallway of the school on March 14 in front of students.
Both women told their version of what happened the next day to NBC10's Lu Ann Cahn:
“She was shoving me and I was asking her to please back up off of me and then she hit me in my face,” said Leslye Jordan, a Chester High teacher.
Mann has a different story however.
“She shoved me and pushed me away, pushed me hard,” said Mann.
Both claim the other started it.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
“It went back and forth, she started cursing, I probably said some curse words back to her,” said Mann.
“I called her a 'B' and asked her to back up off of me and to stop shoving me,” said Jordan.
Jordan says she wrote a letter back in January stating she felt unsafe after a student assaulted her. Jordan claims Wednesday's fight began because Mann was upset about the letter.
Mann claims however the fight started when she told Jordan she could not bring her daughter to school to intimidate the student mentioned in the letter. Both women deny the other’s claim.
“While I was on the floor she continued to try to kick me,” said Jordan.
“She attacked me and for every reaction there’s an equal and opposite reaction and I reacted,” said Mann.
“It’s terrible that teachers have to go to school and not only be threatened by students but by the president of the school board,” said Jordan.
Jordan says she’s done teaching while Mann claims she will take herself off the committee that punishes students for fighting.
“Because I’ve done the same thing,” explained Mann. “But, I defended myself.”
Police are currently looking at cell phone video of the brawl and have not yet determined if there will be any charges.
Wednesday's altercation follows another wild incident in the Chester Upland School District. On Tuesday police arrested an alleged burglar who they say ran into the Village of Chester Upland Elementary School to hide from authorities.
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBC10.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, our mobile site and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
