Seminole County teacher on leave for breaking up school fight

A Seminole County teacher is on paid administrative leave after trying to break up a fight that happened at Winter Springs High School last week.

Channel 9's Cuthbert Langley learned there were two fights last Tuesday within an hour of each other.

District officials confirmed that Jeff Schaefer has been on paid administrative leave since the fight. He could be back in the classroom Wednesday, district officials said.

The social studies teacher tried to break up one of the fights when a 16-year-old hit him, Winter Springs police said.

Schaefer is on paid administrative leave per school protocol, the district said.

The district said in a statement, “I can confirm he has been on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the school district's own investigation into the incident. It's likely he will be able to return as normal tomorrow.”

“They were just trying to fight. Teacher was holding one student back,” said student Lucas Eddie.

Three seniors told Eyewitness News that they witnessed the fight. It’s unclear what led up to it, but one student said it caused students to be late to class.

“That day, everybody was late. Phone calls were called saying you were late to class. It was just crazy,” said Gabriel Tomassini.

Winter Springs police would not give Eyewitness News a copy of the police report, citing an open investigation.

Cox Media Group