A Note from the Editor
I present the following information to the community because I believe it’s information the community should have. In order to do so, I’m having to deviate from my normal practice of ensuring everything in the article is bound to confirmed, official source. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of this particular incident, I’ve been unable to obtain such clear confirmation.
That being said, in researching the incident I’ve been able to obtain enough official information to confirm important portions of the allegations and so I’ve decided to publish this article. I will be as clear as possible regarding what I’ve been able to confirm and what is information sourced from individuals that will remain anonymous.
I urge you to keep this in mind as you read the following article.
The Allegations
I was approached in late January by a concerned party regarding an incident that had allegedly occurred at Welch Elementary School between a student and a teacher.
The individual relayed allegations that an art teacher at the school, identified as Niki Seifert, had sprayed a 5th grade female student in the face with a cleaning solution and that the teacher had waited an unreasonable amount of time before seeking medical treatment for the student after the exposure.
Additionally, they alleged that the initial spraying of the student was done with an ill intent and that intent was also the motivation for not seeking medical attention immediately.
The Arrest
A short time later, on January 21st, 2026, Niki Seifert was arrested by the Newnan Police Department and booked into the Coweta County Jail on a single charge of Reckless Conduct ( 16-5-60(b) ). She was released several hours later after posting a bond.
The full text of § 16-5-60(b) is as follows:
(b) A person who causes bodily harm to or endangers the bodily safety of another person by consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that his or her act or omission will cause harm or endanger the safety of the other person and the disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The arrest was associated to a Newnan Police Department case number. Public records show that case number was generated on December 19th, 2025 for an incident at Welch Elementary School.
Attempting to Confirm Information
On February 19th, 2025, I submitted an Open Records Request with the Newnan Police Department for a copy of the case report as well as any available narrative. On the same day the that request was denied citing the following exceptions to public access.
(O.C.G.A) TITLE 49 – SOCIAL SERVICES, CHAPTER 5 – PROGRAMS AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, ARTICLE 2 – CHILD ABUSE AND DEPRIVATION RECORDS
§ 49-5-40 – Definitions; confidentiality of records; restricted access to records
(b) Each and every record concerning reports of child abuse and child controlled substance or marijuana abuse which is in the custody of the department or other state or local agency is declared to be confidential, and access thereto is prohibited except as provided in Code Section 49-5-41 and Code Section 49-5-41.1.
§ 49-5-41 – Persons and agencies permitted access to records
(a)(4) Any adult who makes a report of suspected child abuse as required by Code Section 19-7-5, but such access shall include only notification regarding the child concerning whom the report was made, shall disclose only whether the investigation by the department or governmental child protective agency of the reported abuse is ongoing or completed and, if completed, whether child abuse was confirmed or unconfirmed, and shall only be disclosed if requested by the person making the report;
While I was unable to obtain the case report, or any other information regarding the investigation leading to Seifert’s arrest, the exceptions cited for denying the request do seem to paint a light more favorable to the legitimacy of the allegations.
Official Statements
I reached out to both the Newnan Police Department, and the Coweta County School System this morning asking for any statement they may have regarding the incident, and to confirm Seifert’s employment status.
The Newnan Police Department responded a short time ago with the following:
” At this time, we have no comment on this case as it is still an active investigation. “
The Coweta County School System responded as well, stating only that Niki Seifert was no longer employed by the CCSS as of Janurary.
Final Thoughts from the Editor
I’ve been unable to obtain the information needed to make a direct confirmation regarding the allegations, let me be clear on that.
However, taking the definition of the Reckless Conduct charge, as well as the cited exceptions for the ORR, I don’t believe it’d be unreasonable to conclude there is certainly a worrying amount of circumstantial evidence pointing to the validity of most, if not all of the allegations.
In particular, note the fact the Reckless Conduct charge specifically states ” by consciously disregarding “, meaning it was a decision made with the knowledge of it’s effect. The charge shows investigators don’t believe whatever they discovered was done out of negligence or reckless indifference, giving at least some credence to the possibility ill intent was involved.
I’m reminded of a conversation I had with an individual that approached me after her arrest regarding the charge and it only being a misdemeanor. Investigators can only charge what they can prove, and when the entire potential witness pool to an incident is elementary school children, you may not be able to prove what actually happened – at least not to the level needed in court.
Suspect Arrested
Booking records indicate the following individual was arrested and booked regarding the incident.
Niki Lynn Seifert, 57
Niki Lynn Seifert, 57, of Newnan was arrested by investigators with the Newnan Police Department and booked into the Coweta County Jail for the following charge(s).
- Reckless Conduct (M)
Booking records show that Perez was released later the same day.
Criminal History
Seifert has no known previous contact with law enforcement.
