Bus driver Erica Stellina is speaking out after a viral video captured her in a heated argument with a Fayetteville, North Carolina mother that escalated into a physical altercation.
During a Facebook Live interview with her friend Riley Shirelle, Stellina shared her version of events. She claims the situation began when a young boy hugged her and then moved his hands down to her backside, which she described as groping her “like a grown adult man,” while allegedly making inappropriate moaning noises. Stellina maintains she never touched the child but admits she warned him that if it happened again, she would “slap the sh*t out of him.” She said the incident left her visibly shaken, prompting her to step off the bus and report it to administrators. According to Stellina, the child was briefly removed before being allowed back on. She also emphasized that she does not consider herself a violent person.
During the conversation, Shirelle expressed that she felt Stellina should have reacted more strongly in the moment, even suggesting she should have physically defended herself. While the two briefly joked about the situation, they also spoke seriously about the challenges educators face.
The viral footage shows a visibly upset mother confronting Stellina, accusing her of touching her child and warning her not to put her hands on him again. Stellina is seen responding by alleging that the child touched her inappropriately.
The exchange escalated after Stellina said she would slap the boy if it happened again. Despite being warned, the mother stepped into her space and initiated physical contact.
The situation then turned into a physical struggle, with both women exchanging obscenities as children and a man stepped in to break it up. Stellina can be heard asking for police to be called before the video cuts off.
A Chicago native who works as both a teacher and bus driver at Alpha Academy, Stellina discussed broader issues in education, including low pay and the difficulty of managing disruptive student behavior. She noted that when teachers raise concerns, those issues are not always taken seriously by parents.
Shirelle, who previously taught sixth grade in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, shared similar experiences. She described what she sees as increasingly disruptive behavior among students, along with a lack of parental support. She shared that elementary students have used highly inappropriate language toward teachers, including one fourth-grade student who told her to “shut up” and used explicit insults like “b&tch” and “stupid a$$”. She also recalled an incident in which a third grader was taken away in handcuffs after bringing a pistol to school and expressing a desire to harm someone due to bullying involving his sister. Additionally, she noted that some students lack basic necessities, and teachers often have to spend their own money to support them.
She explained why she limits multiple students from leaving the classroom at once, noting that bathroom breaks are sometimes misused and, in emergency situations such as school lockdowns, students could be unaccounted for. She also referenced a past incident in which a sixth-grade student asked to go to the bathroom but instead met with an eighth grader, an encounter she said resulted in the student becoming pregnant and contracting an STD, reinforcing her concerns about supervision and accountability.
After seeing the viral video, Shirelle said she sympathizes with Stellina, noting that she knows her character and does not view her as a violent person. While expressing her love for children, she added that some behavioral issues stem from a lack of discipline at home and that maintaining composure in the face of disruptive behavior can be extremely challenging. Stellina echoed that sentiment, suggesting the boy’s behavior may have been learned elsewhere. She also pointed out that the same child was seen in the video attempting to break up the fight.
Shirelle stated that there should have been a better way for the parent to address the situation. Stellina also shared a broader message about unity and accountability. She said she is committed to Black empowerment and believes women must do a better job of communicating with one another to come together for the benefit of children, especially when behavioral concerns arise. She emphasized that the well-being of children should remain the priority. She also noted that the parent followed her to two separate bus stops.
According to Stellina, the school conducted a thorough investigation into the incident. She expressed regret that her students had to witness the altercation, acknowledging the impact it may have had. She added that she typically works 14-hour days and was already 13 hours into her shift at the time of the incident, leaving her exhausted. She said the boy’s alleged actions added another layer of frustration and that the mother continued yelling and had someone record the incident, even as she tried to communicate calmly.
Click on the highlighted link to watch the full video of her interview.
