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Melissa Carter: Florida school principal faces ban for spanking 6-year-old girl

The six-year-old victim of the paddling by Melissa Carter told investigators she had 'purple bruises' afterward, and, 'it hurts when she sits down'
UPDATED JUN 17, 2021
Melissa Carter is the principal of the Central Elementary School in Clewiston (Twitter, Facebook)
Melissa Carter is the principal of the Central Elementary School in Clewiston (Twitter, Facebook)

CLEWISTON, FLORIDA: Last month, a Florida school principal was at the center of massive outrage after a video of her spanking a six-year-old with a wooden paddle went viral. The incident happened on April 13. Melissa Carter, who is under investigation, as per a new report, had previously paddled two other students in two different incidents.

WINK News reported on Wednesday, June 16, that school district documents show that two disciplinary measures that were handed down to the Central Elementary School principal. One, she had to get rid of her wooden paddle, and two, she was put on administrative leave with pay for two days in April. She was reportedly again suspended with pay once again in April during a fact-finding investigation at the school district. According to Hendry County school district records, Carter said she would not paddle another student again within the school district in a handwritten oath, adding, “I have read and understand the policy.”

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Melissa Carter points to the mother in this screenshot of the video. (Twitter)

The Florida Department of Children and Families conducted an interview with the student six-year-old victim of the paddling, who told investigators it was the first time she had ever been paddled. She said that she had “purple bruises” afterward, and, “it hurts when she sits down.”

During DCF’s interview with Carter, the principal defended the paddling. She said, “The first lick was a good one, and the second and third were soft taps.” Carter also reportedly told them she felt, “humiliated because the mother has put the video on social media,” and swore that she would never “intentionally hurt a child.” She said the mother had “requested it,” and “never tried to stop her. ”

Superintendent Michael Swindle reportedly said that Carter will be principal of Central Elementary School this coming school year after the district’s own internal investigation. Swindle told WINK News that he was not aware of the DCF report or the conclusion of the Florida Department of Education investigation either. In May, the State Attorney’s Office found Carter did not commit a crime in a memo it released.

As per the Florida Department of Education, Carter’s attorney and the school district received a letter from DOE Wednesday that says Carter must move forward with an Election of Rights in her case, which could include her choosing to surrender her Florida educator certificate for permanent revocation.

A screenshot of the video showing Carter beating the six-year-old (Twitter)

The DOE said, Carter will receive an “Election of Rights, allowing her to select which option she would like to elect, including the surrender of her certificate for permanent revocation" Such a step would ban her as an educator. But She could also opt to negotiate a settlement agreement with the Florida Department of Education or submit to a formal hearing before an administrative law judge at the Division of Administrative Hearings, or an informal hearing before the Education Practices Commission.” 

She, per the DOE, has up to 21 days to return the Election of Rights. Upon completion of whichever path she elected, the case will go to the Education Practices Commission to be placed on a hearing agenda. At that time, the case will be heard and a resolution would be issued through a Final Order. The DOE said that parents “entrust their children’s lives with every school employee responsible for providing students a world-class education. That trust should never be broken.”

Last week, Carter’s lawyer Steven Ramunni said the child’s mother did give her permission, but there is no physical evidence. He said, “I haven’t seen everything yet… to my knowledge there’s no, perse, signed form, but it was the mother who requested the paddling to begin with, and as you, if you listen to the entire recording.” As per reports, corporal punishment is legal in Florida, but state law leaves it up to each county to decide. The Hendry County School District banned the practice in 2016.

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