Substitute teacher arrested after allegedly kicking student with disabilities

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 20:31 · Archive

A substitute teacher was arrested on a child abuse charge after allegedly kicking a student with disabilities at Matanzas High School in Florida.

Bryan Schewitz, 60, of Flagler Beach, was arrested on a child abuse charge after allegedly kicking a student with disabilities at Matanzas High School on 16 October. A school resource deputy was notified of the incident by the school's assistant principal.

According to witness accounts, Schewitz forcefully moved the student into a chair during a behavioural episode, then forced the student to place his hands on a table and said, 'The gloves are off.' One witness reported seeing Schewitz kick the student in the leg and later noticed a large mark on the student's leg. When asked about the incident, Schewitz allegedly told the witness, 'He kicked me, and I kicked him. So now we're square.' ClickOrlando reports that the student's mother later contacted deputies to report that skin was missing from her child's leg and provided photographs of the injury.

Schewitz told deputies that the student had arrived late, refused to sit and began kicking toward him, causing him to accidentally kick the student in return. He later gave conflicting statements about whether he made the 'square' remark to the witness, deputies said. Sheriff Rick Staly stated that 'it is never okay for a faculty member to strike a student, especially out of anger or frustration.' Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore said such behaviour would not be tolerated on the district's campuses.

Schewitz was charged with child abuse without great bodily harm and was released on $2,500 bond.

How it is being reported

• ‘Now we’re square:’ Flagler Beach substitute teacher accused of kicking student with disabilitiesBryan Schewitz, 60, of Flagler Beach, was arrested on a child abuse charge after allegedly kicking a student with disabilities during a behavioral episode at Matanzas High School, with witnesses reporting he told a colleague, "He kicked me and I kicked him. So now we're square."Clickorlando · 19 Oct, 20:15
• Substitute teacher accused of kicking student with disabilities at Matanzas High SchoolA substitute teacher was arrested on a child abuse charge after allegedly kicking a student with disabilities at Matanzas High School, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said.News4Jax · 19 Oct, 19:08

In this story: Bryan Schewitz · Matanzas High School · Flagler County Sheriff's Office · Flagler Beach · Rick Staly · LaShakia Moore

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem