A South Carolina Elementary School teacher is facing felony charges after a six-year-old student was left behind during a school field trip and discovered walking alone along a busy highway.
The Hampton Police Department (HPD) launched an investigation following the March 20, 2026, incident at the Palmetto Theater. According to investigators, the child was left unattended at the theater after the rest of the group departed. The student was later located by himself on Highway 278.
Following interviews with the child, their guardians, and district officials, police identified Amanda N. Padgett as the designated sponsor for the trip. Law enforcement noted that school protocol requires a sponsor to be present for any trip to receive approval.
Under these guidelines, the sponsor is directly responsible for the accountability and physical safety of every person participating in the outing.
On Friday, authorities announced that Padgett had been charged with Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child. Following the announcement, Padgett turned herself in to the Hampton Police Department. She was subsequently transported to the Hampton County Detention Center for booking.
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The Hampton County School District confirmed to WSAV that Padgett has been placed on administrative leave while the legal process moves forward. In an official statement, the district emphasized its commitment to student protection and professional standards.
“Hampton County School District is committed to prioritizing the safety, protection, and well-being of all students,” the district stated. “Staff members are held to high professional standards and are required to follow all established protocols. Due to our investigation involving personnel, we are limited to the details we can provide. However, Hampton County School District can confirm that one teacher has been placed on administrative leave following the March 20, 2026 field trip incident.”
District officials added that they intend to remain transparent and will provide further updates as the investigation allows.
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