Charlotte mother accused of assaulting Randolph Middle staff, including now suspended principal ...Middle East

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- A Charlotte mother is facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees earlier this month, including the now-suspended principal of Randolph Middle School.

Records state the May 5 incident sent the school into lockdown and disrupted operations.

Principal Jennifer Schroeder has been suspended with pay, however, CMS has not confirmed whether her suspension is connected to the reported assault.

According to Mecklenburg County court records, Mariah Hector was arrested at the school after an altercation sparked by a fight involving her daughter, a student at Randolph Middle. Records state the confrontation began when the woman and several family members, including co-defendant Trinity Nixon, arrived at the school and refused to leave after being asked by staff.

A police report describes Hector becoming aggressive with school officials after her daughter called her about the fight.

When asked to leave by staff member Michael Smalls, the woman allegedly pushed past him and assaulted Principal Schroeder, pushing her into a wall. She then allegedly grabbed Area Superintendent Jennifer Lee Dean by the neck, attempting to choke her before being pulled away by staff, according to court documents.

Dean reported difficulty breathing and visible injuries to her neck, records state.

Hector now faces two counts of assault on a school employee and one count of second-degree trespass. A Mecklenburg County judge appointed a public defender, modified her bond to $5,000, and ordered no contact with school staff.

Hector is banned from Randolph Middle School. Her next court date is scheduled for July 21.

Principal suspension raises questions

Just two weeks after the incident, on May 20, CMS quietly suspended Principal Schroeder with pay. While CMS has not confirmed that her suspension is related to the May 5 fight, the timing has raised eyebrows among some families and community members.

In a message to Randolph Middle families, CMS did not mention the suspension directly, instead stating that "our principal is away from campus at this time" and that additional leadership had been assigned during this "busy testing season."

Schroeder, 46, has worked in CMS since 2004, starting as a math teacher and eventually moving into administration. She became the principal of Randolph Middle in July 2024.

Her suspension is the second CMS leadership shakeup this May. Earlier this month, Ardrey Kell High School Principal Jamie Brooks was also suspended with pay. Brooks has since announced her retirement, effective June 1.

In both cases, CMS has declined to offer specific explanations, citing employee privacy laws. It’s a stance that’s frustrating some parents.

“They need to step up, in this communication department, they need to step up,” said Ardrey Kell parent Kiran Fijuwara in an interview with Queen City News. “When you don’t know, you’re going to assume, and they say you should never assume.”

So far, CMS has not publicly connected the Randolph school incident to Schroeder’s suspension.

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