BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — He was a finalist for Brevard County's teacher of the year, but WFTV was told on Wednesday that he has been suspended for slapping a student.
Raul Montes is a science teacher at Cocoa High School in Brevard County. School officials said he slapped the student across the face after he caught her kissing a boy.
Montes didn't deny raising his hand to the girl. Officers said the teacher admitted in a letter to his principal that he slapped the student after he caught her kissing in the hallway.
Montes, a Cocoa High science teacher since 1978, will spend the next five weeks on unpaid suspension. It's the punishment he got after turning in a report to his principal, detailing what happened on March 9.
He wrote that he saw one of his students kissing another student and pulled her aside, but writes "For some reason, I slapped her right cheek. I'm still trying to understand why I acted in this manner."
Montes then said he apologized to the student in front of the class and in private.
"I don't think he meant it in a bad way," said former student Zack Edinger.
A former student said Montes is a good teacher who pushes his students in the right direction. He was even nominated for 2010 Brevard County teacher of the year.
Even though victim told police, "He needs to get help so this never happens again." She decided not to press charges.
The Department of Children and Families wasn't called in because the girl is 18 years old.
Montes was suspended with pay on March 15, but the school board suspended him without pay at its meeting on Tuesday night.
Some feel he got off with a slap on the wrist.
"A teacher should not lay their hands on a student because that is just not right," 2010 graduate Nolan Simpson said.
"Is it okay to keep on a teacher who admits to slapping a student?" WFTV reporter Bianca Castro asked a school official.
"In this instance, all of our policies and procedures were followed," the official replied.
WFTV spoke with Montes over the phone late Wednesday afternoon, and he said he made a mistake and his punishment is appropriate.
Montes said he looks forward to returning to the classroom.
WFTV
