The principal of a rough-and-tumble Queens middle school that has made headlines for its violence in recent years was knocked down and out by a student's flying fist, witnesses told The Post.
Longtime JHS 226 principal Sonia Nieves had to be taken to a hospital for a head injury Thursday morning after she intervened in a cafeteria squabble between two teens -- one of whom landed a punch squarely in her face.
The 15-year-old girl was arrested and charged with assault, cops said.
Although there were differing accounts as to whether Nieves was actually the intended target, students said violent incidents at the South Ozone Park school -- which last August was placed on the state's "persistently dangerous" list -- were a dime a dozen.
"There are fights here everyday. This school is out of order," said eighth-grader Nyeema McFarland, 13. "They don't know how to control students here."
Both city and state education officials insisted that the school has already seen improvements this year through the added supports that were mandated by the school's designation as persistently dangerous.
Additional reporting by Kirsten Fleming
