CHARGES: Court Document Listing Formal Charges (PDF file)
SCHOOL REPORT: Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 (all PDF files)
ARREST REPORT: Kathy Garrett Arrest Report (PDF file)
LETTER: Teachers' Union Responds To Parent Who Complained (PDF file)

CASSELBERRY, Fla. -- Six current and former Seminole County school employees failed to properly report allegations that teacher Kathleen Garrett was abusing autistic students in her classes, according to a report released Monday.

"It appears that people didn't report it right away or, if they did report it, the person they reported to didn't think it was serious enough to carry it up the ladder," said Richard Wells, Seminole County Schools.

The abuse might have been stopped had any of the six made sure state officials knew what was happening, according to the report by Andrew Thomas, an Orlando attorney hired by the school board to determine how Garrett remained a teacher in county schools despite repeated parent complaints and even police investigations.

Thomas called for discipline for the six -- two of Garrett's former principals, two assistant principals and two of her aides -- if further investigation by state and local officials upholds his conclusions.

"I have tried to understand how Ms. Garrett, or any teacher, for that matter, could remain as a teacher despite unusually harsh treatment of children entrusted to her care," Thomas said in the report, which caps a six-month investigation.

"There's not a lot of information in here that should be in here," said parent Carol Goings.

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Goings led the charge against Seminole County after Garrett's arrest, saying she warned of abuse six years ago when Garrett taught her daughter Melody. She says, of the six employees the investigation blames, two aides should be praised for outlasting intimidation, the same kind she gave in to.

"We should be heard, action should be taken, and intimidation should not be allowed by any school employees," said Goings.

Garrett, 49, has resigned and is awaiting trial on five counts of child abuse. She was arrested in November after allegations she abused autistic students in her class at South Seminole Middle School in Casselberry, even chipping one boy's teeth by slamming his face into a desk.

Other allegations include beating children, humiliating them, pushing one's face into vomit and disciplining some behind closed bathroom doors, where screaming and sounds of furniture banging around could be heard.

The report recommends considering cameras in special education classrooms. The district is now "looking into" that. The district admits it has done little to change the way it conducts abuse investigations, but they have put bigger windows on some special education classrooms. It's a change that may not have helped in Garrett's case.

"Of course, this classroom had two other people in it and it still happened, so you've got to make sure you know how to report, too," said Wells.

Carol Goings was the only parent to respond to the report Monday. Of course, several parents are now involved in civil actions against the district and are not able to comment.