A judge has dismissed charges filed against a Boardman school teacher who scuffled with her boyfriend's nine-year-old son, as she was attempting to put baby soap in his mouth.

According to court records, Mahoning County Court Judge Scott Hunter weighed the evidence in the case of Mary Rowan, and found that the action she took against the nine-year-old son of her boyfriend was reasonable physical discipline, as opposed to corporal punishment.

The 37-year-old West Boulevard Elementary School teacher was placed on on administrative leave after she was charged with domestic violence and endangering children.

According to a report filed by the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, Rowan was arrested last month at the Canfield home she shares with her boyfriend.

The deputy reports that when he arrived at the Palmyra Road home, Rowan was on the living room couch crying. She was holding a tissue to her mouth where the deputy says he could see a small amount of blood.

The deputy could see several red bruises and scratches on the face of the 9-year-old boy, who said that Rowan had hit him several times with a wooden spoon and tried to put soap in his mouth for misbehaving.

According to a statement she gave to investigators, Rowan said that the 9-year-old was “having a meltdown and and screaming and acting like a wild animal.”

Rowan says when she attempted to put baby soap in the child's mouth, he pushed her down.

She says she attempted to grab the boy's face and once again pour the soap in his mouth, but he kept fighting and pushed her down.

According to Rowan's statement, at some point the boy's head, or some other part of his body struck her face, causing her to bleed.

She says that during the scuffle she tried to keep the boy away from her, and prevent him from hitting or pushing her, since she in the third trimester of what she describes as a high risk pregnancy.

The deputy arrested Rowan after deciding that appeared that the discipline, or attempt at discipline was excessive, and that Rowan had the opportunity to back off.

Boardman School Superintendent Tim Saxton tells 21 News that while Rowan remains on administrative leave, a substitute teacher has been performing her duties in the classroom.

Saxton says Rowan is scheduled to begin maternity leave soon. He believes this has been an emotional experience for Rowan, and he expects that she'll make a decision on her next move in relation to her job after she has her baby.