A middle school teacher in Florida has been arrested after allegedly telling a student to hit a classmate.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a press release that the Lee Middle School teacher Judith Clark is accused of repeatedly telling a sixth grader to stop talking in class on May 13.
The student allegedly caused a disturbance and deputies said Clark, 64, ended up asking the class, “Who do you want to slap?,” according to WFLA.
No one volunteered the first time he asked, according to witnesses. The student in question then started talking again and Clark asked the class a second time, again getting no response.
After his first question was silenced, Clark allegedly told two students to close the classroom windows and ordered another student to hit the victim. The student followed Clark’s direction and slapped the victim gently across the face, keeping his hand open as he made contact with his classmate.
The 12-year-old student who slapped a classmate told the sheriff’s office he was afraid to disobey Clark’s orders.
After the school learned of the incident, administrators removed Clark from the classroom and the matter was investigated. In addition, he was forbidden to contact the students.
When detectives had enough evidence, they obtained a warrant for Clark’s arrest and he was taken into custody on Tuesday, May 19. He has since been charged with child abuse without great bodily injury.
The Manatee County School District addressed the situation in a statement following his arrest.
“This incident is very concerning and does not reflect the standards or expectations of our staff. This arrest follows a joint investigation involving the School District, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Child Protective Services. The district contacted the Department of Children and Families after receiving information on May 14, 2026,” the statement began, according to WFLA.
The school district went on to say that “the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority.”
“We are committed to providing a safe, positive and supportive learning environment for all students, and the actions described in this case are inconsistent with that commitment we hold to our schools,” the district said. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, take all appropriate steps to ensure accountability, and keep our school community informed.”
The district said Clark began working at the school in 2019. “He was not renewed on April 8, 2026, the last scheduled date of employment on May 29, 2026,” the district concluded.
It is not yet clear whether Clark has filed a motion or retained legal counsel. County Sheriff’s Office said Us Weekly they have no further updates to share at press time.
