JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The vote to decide whether or not to punish a Terry Parker teacher for allegedly beating a student was pulled from the school board agenda Tuesday, due to questions regarding witness statements, according to an e-mail from the superintendent.
A Duval County Public School (DCPS) teacher could face suspension for allegedly beating up a student, a DCPS investigation revealed, but the discussion regarding suspending the teacher has been put on hold for now.
In an e-mail to school board members, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti wrote: "Two employee witnesses are indicating that the statements attributed to them in the reports do not accurately reflect their previous statements to the investigator."
The district wants to ensure accuracy of what's reported to the board before a final recommendation is made in this case, Vitti also said in the e-mail.
According to the DCPS investigation, on September 27, Darryl Countryman, a teacher at Terry Parker High School in Arlington asked other teachers for help when he was dealing with the student. When the other teachers arrived, they saw Countryman hold the student onto the floor and punch the student, the report says.
The report also says Countryman grabbed and punched the student in the head and face, "forcefully pushed" the student's head against the floor and put his arms around the student's neck in an aggressive manner.
The principal was notified about the incident from teachers and students. She contacted the Department of Children and Family Services and police, which are both conducting their own separate investigations.
Countryman's attorneys released a statement saying he maintains his innocence: "Mr. Countryman is prepared to fight and will take every available legal action to get back into the classroom.”
Countryman, a reading teacher, could face a 30-day suspension without pay. He has not been teaching since the investigation began.