A Florida elementary school teacher has been arrested after allegedly hitting a special needs elementary school student with a book in retaliation for a violent incident.
The woman identified as Madison Anthony, 25, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse in the third degree in connection with the incident that took place at Champion Elementary School in Volusia County, where she was substituted. for about a month, authorities said.
An indictment affidavit cited by ClickOrlando said a staff member told a school resource officer that he saw Anthony hit a child with a book in the special-disability classroom.
The witness indicated that the children in that room have learning and behavioral disabilities, both of which require additional school resources.
The situation got out of control when a student hit a classmate with a book, to which the substitute teacher retaliated, saying, “You hit her, I hit you,” according to the police report.
Moments later, the educator ripped the book from the boy’s hands and walked around a table to hit him. She moments later warned the boy, “Whatever you do to her, I’ll do to you,” according to her court file.
As a result of the facts, the victim’s mother stated that she wished to file criminal charges against Anthony. She is due in court for the arraignment on February 21.
The Volusia County School District issued a statement noting that the suspect was immediately removed from the school system’s lists of approved surrogates.