BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — An Orlando attorney has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Brevard Public Schools alleging the physical, emotional and psychological abuse of a group of developmentally disabled students by their teacher.
The students all attended Ralph Williams Jr. Elementary School.
It began with a report from a whistleblower. One of those investigations was conducted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit.
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The case was reviewed with the SAO and it was determined there was not evidence to support criminal prosecution for child abuse.
Attorneys for the Children’s Families are now looking for their day in federal court.
“What we saw in this classroom should frighten a regular parent, the parent of a regular child, much less a parent of a disabled child,” attorney Aaron Carter Bates said.
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Bates represents the families of five former Ralph Williams Jr. Elementary students who say during the 2018-2019 school year, their children were subjected to repeated physical, emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of their exceptional student education teacher.
“What we see is all of these kids have regressed in their development,” Bates said. “All but one have been pulled out of Brevard Public Schools.”
Among the allegations outlined in a federal lawsuit is that the children’s teacher routinely screamed at and berated her special-education students.
The teacher is also accused of improperly restraining students with activity mats and stepping on students’ fingers and toes if they were not sitting directly upright at circle time.
As part of their lawsuit, the parents involved now want cameras in the classroom.
The teacher named in the lawsuit is not facing criminal charges, which is why Eyewitness News is not naming her now. However, she is still employed with Brevard Public Schools and works in Student Services at District Headquarters.
Cox Media Group
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