Stephanie Arnott, a 40-year-old special needs teacher, has been accused of child abuse at Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School in Sumter County, Florida. As reported by WFTV, a fellow teacher allegedly witnessed Arnott violently handling a 5-year-old autism student, an accusation stemming from incidents reported to have occurred last Monday.
The mother of the student, Kimberly Smart, shared her distress with WFTV, explaining that her son returned from school visibly shaken, which alerted her that something was amiss. Smart discovered bruises on her son's arms, leading her to believe that her child had been subjected to shaking and mishandling by the teacher. Arnott, who was working as a substitute teacher, has since bonded out after being booked into the Sumter County Detention Center last Thursday.
Details of the allegations were further outlined in a report from WESH. Arnott is accused of forcefully turning a student's head towards a TV and wrapping a child tightly in a blanket, restricting movement, and pushing the child’s face while asserting that the child was going to nap. Witnesses described hearing screams and cries for help, with the child reportedly exclaiming, "You're hurting me."
Logan Brown, the Superintendent of Sumter County Schools, conveyed the district’s stance in a statement detailed by ClickOrlando, noting that the safety and well-being of students is their top priority, and any behavior that endangers a child is intolerable. The teacher accused of abuse is now a "now former" employee, and the district claimed they are cooperating with law enforcement, emphasizing that such actions have no place in their schools.
