A middle school teacher in Florida has been arrested after she allegedly told a student to hit a classmate.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a press release that Lee Middle School teacher Judith Clark has been accused of repeatedly telling a sixth grade student to stop talking during class on May 13.
The student allegedly created a disturbance and deputies said that Clark, 64, eventually asked the class, “Who wants to slap him?,” according to WFLA.
No one volunteered when she first asked, according to witnesses. The student in question then began talking again and Clark asked the class a second time, receiving no response again.
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After her first question was met with silence, Clark allegedly told two students to close the classroom window blinds and instructed another student to hit the victim. The student followed Clark’s direction and gently slapped the victim across the face, keeping an open hand as they made contact with their classmate.
The 12-year-old student who slapped his classmate told the sheriff’s office that he was afraid to disobey Clark’s instructions.
After the school learned about the incident, administrators removed Clark from the classroom and an investigation was launched into the matter. Additionally, she had been forbidden to have any contact with the students.
Once detectives had enough evidence, they obtained an arrest warrant for Clark and she was taken into custody on Tuesday, May 19. She has since been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm.
The School District of Manatee County addressed the situation in a statement following her arrest.
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“This incident is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards or expectations we have for our employees. This arrest follows a collaborative investigation involving the School District, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Child Protective Services. The District contacted the Department of Children and Families after receiving information on May 14, 2026,” the statement began, per WFLA.
The school district went on to say that the “safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”
“We are committed to providing a safe, positive and supportive learning environment for all students, and the actions described in this case are not aligned with that commitment we uphold in our schools,” the district said. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, take all appropriate steps to ensure accountability, and keep our school community informed.”
The district said that Clark first started working at the school in 2019. “She was non-renewed on April 8, 2026, with the last scheduled day of employment on May 29, 2026,” the district concluded.
It is not currently clear if Clark has entered a plea or retained legal counsel. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office told Us Weekly they have no additional updates to share as of time of publication.
