DELTONA, Fla. — A Volusia County elementary school teacher is now being kept away from children after being accused of hitting a special needs student.
Angela Shaffer is the gym coach at Spirit Elementary School in Deltona, where a teacher's assistant reported the alleged incident.
According to the sheriff's report, Shaffer was with an autistic student. She told deputies the student did not want to participate in gym class, and she was trying to walk her to the cafeteria.
A witness said the girl, who cannot communicate verbally, hit Shaffer; and that Shaffer punched the girl in the shoulder twice.
Samantha Kiernan, who is the mother of a special needs student, said they must be handled differently.
"They definitely need a lot more patience to be dealt with," said Kiernan. "But if a teacher is getting frustrated with them, then they need to take a time out. They should be trained in how to deal with those kinds of children."
After Shaffer allegedly hit the child, the witness told deputies she looked around to see if anyone was watching.
Shaffer is now on paid administrative leave as the school district conducts its own investigation.
"It's not right for teachers to be hitting the students, special needs, otherwise," said Kiernan. "It doesn't matter. I wouldn't like anyone hitting my child."
WFTV
