A substitute teacher in Florida has been arrested after allegedly kicking a student with disabilities in the leg. Following the incident, he reportedly told a witness that he had done it to “even the score,” as stated by local authorities.
Bryan Schewitz, 60, was taken into custody on Friday after the incident at Matanzas High School in Flagler County.
The Flagler Beach resident, who was serving as a substitute at the school, faces a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.
The incident occurred when the student, who has a disability that wasn’t detailed, was reportedly having behavioral issues in class. One witness stated that Schewitz used excessive force to get the student to sit in a chair and ordered him to place his hands on a table, warning, “The gloves are off.”
This treatment made the witness uncomfortable, according to her statements to investigators. Another person also reported seeing Schewitz kick the child, leading to a noticeable mark on the student’s leg.
The boy’s mother informed deputies that her child had a significant injury, sharing photographs that showed missing skin on his leg.
When questioned by school officials, the student confirmed that Schewitz had kicked him. In contrast, Schewitz provided a different narrative, claiming that the incident was accidental.
He asserted that the student had arrived late, refused to sit down, and when kicking towards him, ended up hitting his leg. According to him, he accidentally kicked the student while trying to guide him back into his seat.
Although Schewitz acknowledged directing the child’s hands onto a table and making a strict comment about “the gloves coming off,” he first denied making the comment about being “square” with the student before later expressing uncertainty about it.
Despite this, he still argued that the kick was unintended.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly criticized the actions, stating that adults entrusted with students, particularly those with disabilities, must manage their behavior calmly.
Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore reiterated the importance of student safety, declaring that such conduct would not be tolerated in schools.
Following his arrest, Schewitz was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and released the next day on a $2,500 bond. It remains unclear whether he has been suspended, fired, or removed from the substitute teaching list at the school district.
