Middle school teacher lost her job after she was caught on video hitting a student with a metal stick. The boy’s mother claims the former 6th grade teacher had some sort of disagreement with her son before hitting him with a piece of a metal broom. Her 12-year-old son with ADHD reportedly told her that the incident started when the teacher used a desk to pin him near the wall. How would you feel if you watched your child get that type of treatment from a teacher that said she cared about my son? She told me this.” the boy’s mother said.
The 49-year-old teacher from Florida, Cyntyche Darling-Lundy, was arrested on Friday. She is now charged with child abuse, officials said. This incident occurred at the Forest Grove Middle School. Per reports, Darling-Lundy worked as an ESE teacher – exceptional student education teacher.
According to Joselyn Destin, her 12-year-old son, Kevin Searles, Jr., is the boy being hit in the video.
During an interview with CBS 12 News, Joselyn Destin reportedly said: “I was enraged. I was enraged. It’s wrong, it’s called abuse. How would you feel if you watched your child get that type of treatment from a teacher that said she cared about my son? She told me this.”
The mom claims the former 6th grade teacher had some sort of disagreement with her son before hitting him with a piece of a metal broom.
According to Destin, her 12-year-old son reportedly told her that the incident started when the teacher used a desk to pin him near the wall.
In the video, the 12-year-old with ADHD reportedly tells the ESE teacher, “I want to get out” and the teacher responds, “You like it right there.”
The boy responds, “No, I don’t” and the teacher reportedly hits him with the metal stick. The boy screams and falls to the ground.
According to CBS 12 News, Searles’ friend, Seth McClanahan, recorded the incident on his phone.
McClanahan mom, Menda Potter, reportedly told WPBF 25 News: “I asked him why he did that. And he said, ‘To protect my friend. I don’t want this teacher hurting nobody else.’”
The school district released the following statement:
“SLPS is aware of serious allegations against a teacher. The school district is working closely with our local law enforcement partners. The alleged behavior is intolerable and reprehensible. As a result of the initial investigation, the teacher has been terminated. This behavior represents a total disregard for SLPS’s mission to provide a safe and caring teaching and learning environment and such behavior is not tolerated.”
Joselyn Destin also said: “Your job is not to beat him. You beat my baby.”
Destin also said that she plans to take legal action. Both mothers, Destine and Potter, said they hoped the 49-year-old teacher never steps foot in a classroom again.
Menda Potter also told WPBF 25 News: “We send our kids to school to be safe. We’re at work. We’re out doing things. They’re supposed to be safe, not getting hit at school and being chased around a classroom by a teacher.”