N.J. Teacher Captured On Video Berating Special Education Student May Lose Job

SEWELL, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey teacher that was secretly taped verbally abusing a student may soon be out of a job.

On Monday night, school officials suspended him, but as CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez found out the parents of the teenager at the center of the controversy say simply removing the teacher is not enough.

It was not the brightest teaching moment for Steven Roth as he berated special education student Julio Artuz.

Student: "Don't call me special."

Teacher: "What? Oh my God. (Expletive). Just what do you think you are here for?"

Armed with his cell phone, Artuz secretly recorded Roth's tirade at the Bankbridge Regional School in Gloucester County.

Teacher: "Who cares that you're special?"

Student: "No one."

Teacher: "Nobody, dude...nobody."

Roth was originally suspended with pay for his actions, but on Monday night the school board voted to suspend the tenured teacher without pay for 120 days. Artuz's parents said they're hoping for harsher punishment moving forward.

"It's been rough, but we're all trying to get through it, but it's rough," Joyce Artuz said.

"He was making great progress and to have something like this, obviously takes a toll on any 15-year-old," Julio Artuz Sr. said.

The school board is seeking to terminate Roth and is referring their decision to the Commissioner of Education.

"The commissioner of education will then refer the matter to an administrative law judge to determine whether or not tenure charges are founded and whether termination is appropriate," school board attorney Michael DePiero said.

Sanchez spoke to two students that said Roth is their golf coach. They believe there is more to this video than meets the eye and they said Roth shouldn't be fired.

"It'll be a big loss. I'll be 100 percent upset because he's like a second dad to me," Dan Darnall said.

"I personally think that the coach is probably the nicest guy I ever met," another student said.

Artuz's parents said he is still very distraught and has received threats from students. The teen has since transferred to another school.

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