ARCADIA - A teacher accused of slapping students who were speaking Spanish in the classroom is being recommended for termination by a hearing officer who reviewed the case.

Harold Merkow said Ingleside Middle School teacher Kim Youngblood broke Scottsdale Unified School District policy when she struck three students in April 2003. He found insufficient evidence, however, that she injured the students or struck them because they were speaking Spanish. Youngblood's attorney, Jerome Froimson, said he disagrees with the recommendation for termination.

"If she didn't hit students in a way to cause pain and for speaking Spanish, then she didn't really do anything wrong," he said.