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Florida ‘Teacher of the Year’ charged with child abuse against student days after honor: report
https://www.fox35orlando.com ^ | November 1, 2021 | Staff

Posted on 11/02/2021 6:49:23 AM PDT by Red Badger

A "Teacher of the Year" in Florida was arrested Friday after she allegedly struck a minor in the face – causing a nosebleed – after the student posted a message on Instagram questioning the educator's selection for the top honor, according to a report.

Caroline Melanie Lee, the 60-year-old teacher at Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School, was subsequently arrested. She denied ever striking the student, The Florida Times-Union reported, citing the arrest report.

The paper described troubling allegations from a student.

The alleged incident occurred after some Instagram commenters questioned Lee being tapped for the honor, the paper reported. One issue that was raised was Lee’s use of the N-word in class, the report said. Lee brushed off the criticism and said she only used the word while reading from John Steinbeck’s 1937 classic "Of Mice and Men."

The paper, citing a police report, said Lee requested to speak privately to the student— who was not in her classes. It was during the meeting that the student claims Lee struck her multiple times, the report said. The paper, citing police, said Lee told officers it was the student’s word against her own. The teacher reportedly told police she believed the post could be a threat to her life. But, she added, she was "not afraid" and "did not feel the need" to report the message to staff.

School surveillance video showed Lee "walking at an aggressive pace" to her classroom before the incident and the student, about four minutes later, leaving the classroom holding her face and walking with a "low demeanor" to a guidance counselor’s office, where she reported the incident, the responding officer said in the report.

Neither the school district nor Lee immediately commented to Fox News. The Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene said in a statement obtained by the paper that "what is alleged should never occur — ever — especially in a school setting."

Police arrested Lee on a child abuse charge, the paper said.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: fl; florida; floriduh; publikedjookayshun; teachers
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1 posted on 11/02/2021 6:49:23 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

If she was arrested, why isn’t there a mug shot or any photo ???
MSM supressed I guess


2 posted on 11/02/2021 6:51:27 AM PDT by George from New England
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To: George from New England

Don’t look. Please. I am trying to keep your day going well today.


3 posted on 11/02/2021 6:54:10 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: George from New England

She looks like a fed up, run down version of Meryl Streep, but with Debbie Wasserman type frizzy hair and Cat Eye glasses.


4 posted on 11/02/2021 6:57:39 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: Red Badger

Her arrest record says she was arrested by Duval County School Board Police. I know we use school resources officers from the sheriff office or local PDs across the state but I didn’t realize school boards had police forces in Florida—Even the Marxist school board of Loudoun County lacks it’s own police force.


5 posted on 11/02/2021 7:00:31 AM PDT by DaBroasta
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To: Red Badger
Guilty.


6 posted on 11/02/2021 7:01:33 AM PDT by moovova (I'm dismayed that most of the world hates me for being non-vaxxed. Honest. No, really.)
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To: moovova
Wait a minute...I may've judged too quickly.


7 posted on 11/02/2021 7:04:56 AM PDT by moovova (I'm dismayed that most of the world hates me for being non-vaxxed. Honest. No, really.)
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To: moovova

Does seem like the high strung slappy type...


8 posted on 11/02/2021 7:07:00 AM PDT by BiglyCommentary
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To: moovova

That is a nice weapon. What is it? Serious question.


9 posted on 11/02/2021 7:11:12 AM PDT by robowombat (Orthodox )
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To: Red Badger

My wife, a former teacher assistant, once tapped an extremely rowdy student in the forehead. She regretted doing it and it wasn’t reported. The student was a perfect angel in the classroom (when she was in there) after that.


10 posted on 11/02/2021 7:11:28 AM PDT by cymbeline
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To: DaBroasta

Duval is Jax FL. They need it…


11 posted on 11/02/2021 7:12:00 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: BiglyCommentary

Oh wow! Looks like my late mother. She was manic depressive and liked to slap. This teacher was in the wrong just meeting with the student privately. These days, never be alone with a minor...never!


12 posted on 11/02/2021 7:23:35 AM PDT by JoJo354 (JUST SAY NO to covid vaxx!)
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To: robowombat

Not much to work with, but I’d guess it’s a Savage Model 110 Hunter XP.


13 posted on 11/02/2021 7:24:18 AM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: robowombat
Tikka T3 Tactical, maybe? Hard to see...


14 posted on 11/02/2021 7:28:46 AM PDT by moovova (I'm dismayed that most of the world hates me for being non-vaxxed. Honest. No, really.)
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To: moovova

Maybe not a Tikka...forearm doesn’t look quite right.


15 posted on 11/02/2021 7:31:51 AM PDT by moovova (I'm dismayed that most of the world hates me for being non-vaxxed. Honest. No, really.)
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To: Red Badger

That someone filed a racism complaint because she read a word from a 1930’s classic novel says a lot about the atmosphere surrounding this. My guess is that the slapping accusation is false.

I remember a kid in second grade no less pressing his hand on his face to create the very realistic appearance that the teacher had slapped him (and Lord knows he needed slapping). The current story says the girl is seen “leaving the classroom holding her face.” Uh huh. Possibility isn’t proof, but this is a gimmick kids have known about since time immemorial. Sort of like saying “I can’t breathe” when arrested for drugs.


16 posted on 11/02/2021 7:39:55 AM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: Chewbarkah

My firs thought was that the girl hit herself so she could get his woman fired. I knew some psycho girls in high school that did this to boyfriends who ditched them....gave themselves bruises then ran and reported the boy. Who knows, I would like to hear the teachers side.


17 posted on 11/02/2021 8:04:46 AM PDT by Pigsley (I)
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To: Chewbarkah

Quite a stretch if you believe that. A child wouldn’t come up with a plan like that on the fly. Poor kid didn’t know what she was getting into and wasn’t in the abuser’s class. You’re a guy right? Got any sisters or daughters?


18 posted on 11/02/2021 8:31:24 AM PDT by subterfuge (RIP T.P.)
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To: Red Badger
Almost all teachers carry liability insurance against these types of accusations. Kids can be nasty and get ideas from their peers and the internet on how to "get back" at their teachers.

I have had a few students say they were going to "get me" because I wouldn't back off on a grade or classroom disciplinary issue. Only once did it come to a parent conference with an administrator. That ended quickly with the parent apologizing after seeing the documentation I kept on her little angel.

19 posted on 11/02/2021 8:55:06 AM PDT by pfflier
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To: Red Badger

She allegedly struck a minor in the face

Student posted a message on Instagram

She denied ever striking the student

One truth one lie who owns what?.


20 posted on 11/02/2021 9:16:51 AM PDT by Vaduz (women and children to be impacIQ of chimpsted the most.)
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