A 63-year-old teacher in Texas is facing criminal charges after she was captured on video slapping a student at least five times before openly mocking him.

Mary Hastings of Ozen High School in Beaumont is seen in the nine second video knocking the papers off the desk of the student, before physically attacking the boy, who she refers to as an "idiot ass."

Initially, the boy appears to be laughing as Hastings launches into her verbal assault, which reportedly ends with him in tears.

Video Goes Viral on Social Media

The video does not show what prompted the geometry teacher's outburst, which has now been viewed on Twitter thousands of times. The footage was recorded by another student.

Hastings has since been formally booked on assault charges by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and is now free on $25,000 bail. The Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) has also placed her on administrative leave without pay.

In a recently released statement, school officials insisted such behavior will not be tolerated and stressed that the teacher has now been removed from the classroom. Hastings has worked for the district the past three years.

Incident Started Over Questions About Grade?

Atyra Derounce, a student in Hastings class, told reporters the incident started after the student questioned the teacher about his grade. Reportedly, the teacher then picked up the papers on the student's desk and threw them at him.

Derounce went on to describe Hastings as a "cool" teacher, and insisted she had never before seen her behave in such a way. She said she remained in shock over the entire incident.

Hastings has yet to publicly comment on the incident. Ozen High houses 5,332 students between the ages of 14 to 18.