WARREN, Ohio - A former employee at the STEAM Academy in Warren is charged with assaulting an eleven year old girl. 

Marcus Crum pleaded not guilty to assaulting Sophia Sweet on October 22nd at the school. Sophia's mother, Jill, says Sophia suffered head and neck injuries that required treatment at St. Joe's.

Jill Sweet says Crum worked as a guidance counselor at the school last year but was recently demoted to parent liaison. 

STEAM Academy did not want to comment on the incident. Jon Natko, the head of school, did say he sent out a letter to parents on Thursday, reassuring them his emphasis of providing a safe environment for the nearly 250 kids at the school.

"We work very hard to make sure that our children are really safe" says Natko. "And we'll continue doing that, that's my goal and that's my staffs goal. And that's part of what I look for when I interview for people to hire them is that they have the children's best interest at heart."

Natko says Crum is no longer employed at the school. He's scheduled to appear in court again December 16th.