Caroline Melanie Lee is a Florida teacher who was just named teacher of the year at her school has now been arrested for child abuse after she allegedly struck a student over a comment made on an Instagram post about the award.
Melanie Lee was arrested on Friday after she asked to speak with the student in her classroom, the Florida Times-Union reported. The student, who reported the incident immediately after it took place, said that Lee reached across the table and struck her several times, causing a nosebleed.
Age
She is 60 years old.
Florida Teacher Arrested for Child Abuse
According to the arrest report, Lee denied physically harming the student but noted that the disagreement was she said/she said situation.
The officer who wrote the report viewed school surveillance footage and saw Lee “walking at an aggressive pace” toward her classroom, followed about four minutes later by the student leaving the classroom with a “low demeanor” while holding her face. She went immediately to a guidance counselor’s office and reported the incident, the newspaper said.
Lee also told police that she left her classroom door open while the student was inside, but another student — who had been in the classroom decorating — told police Lee asked him to go and closed the door behind him. That student also said he heard Lee raising her voice from the classroom.
Police Report
According to the police report, the issue was instigated by an Instagram post by the Duval County Public Schools congratulation Lee for being named the Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School Teacher of the Year. However, several comments on the post questioned her selection. They asked if this was the same teacher who had used the “n” word during class instruction and incidents of subtle discrimination against students. Lee reportedly responded to one of the comments, but the post and all comments were later deleted.
Lee told police officers that she had used the “n” word during class discussions of the novel “Of Mice and Men.” Many educators and students believe the use of the word instead an a euphemism is unnecessary even in such discussions.
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The teacher told police that she felt the message she read was “a threat to kill her,” so she wanted to speak with the student about it. But she also said she was “not afraid” and “did not feel the need” to report what she read to staff.
School Statement
School principal Tyrus Lyles said he was in contact with the student’s family involved in the incident and had addressed other families.
“It is very disappointing, but I am compelled to share with you that one of our teachers was arrested today on campus for child abuse,” he told the families. “Even more disappointing, the teacher arrested is our recent teacher of the year nominee.”
