The middle school teacher reportedly played loud music in an effort to disrupt the FSA testing. School officials said the art teacher also posted his behavior on social media, saying he thought the students were stressed out and wanted to give them the chance to take the test again. The educator refused to turn the music down and caused a disturbance as he was escorted to the principal’s office, prompting the school to go on lockdown until the incident was resolved.
The art teacher from Florida, Martin Reese, is now facing charges of disrupting a school function and disorderly conduct.
Reese is an art instructor at Creekside Middle School. The educator reportedly played loud music and refused to turn it down, according to Fox 35. The middle school teacher was purposely intending to disrupt statewide testing that was taking place at the school, officials said..
Officers responded to the school just before noon Tuesday over a disturbance at the educational institution. When the art teacher refused to turn down his music, he was then taken to the principal’s office and the school was placed under lockdown
According to WESH, one parent said that even though her child was not injured physically, the incident did not help her student’s anxiety about the test.
Aubrey Markovitz reportedly said: “They’re trying to get through it, so to have a disruption while they’re stressed and trying to get through their testing, she was a little irritated. Kind of shaken up.”
In a statement on social media, the local police department said the lockdown had been lifted and that everything at the school was back to normal.
Markovitz also added that the art teacher had also allegedly removed his shirt and was yelling.
School officials said the art teacher also posted his behavior on social media, saying he thought the students were stressed out and wanted to give them the chance to take the test again.
According to the officials, the middle school teacher had been with the school district since 2009. He had only been at Creekside Middle School since late March, approximately two weeks.
Spokesman with the school district told WESH that the art teacher had been relieved of his duties.
This is a developing story and it will be updated as new information become available.