Florida teacher who allegedly 'wanted to shoot some students' allowed to work at middle school for weeks
HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA: A Florida teacher who said she wanted to shoot students was reportedly allowed to work at a middle school for weeks. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, guns were removed from the home of the teacher, who remains unnamed, after she told the assistant principal of the Fox Chapel Middle School that she was "having bad thoughts" and "wanted to shoot some students."
The teacher told a guidance counselor that she was upset because she "learned about a social media post where people were talking negatively about her sexual orientation," according to Fox News. She also told the counselor she "has suicidal thoughts" and "three handguns at home," and that she "wanted to shoot some students due to them not performing to their ability." A sheriff's report said that after making the comments, the teacher "immediately stated she would never harm a student" and "stated that she does not want to harm herself."
READ MORE
The teacher was cleared to return to classroom
According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, on the day that the three handguns and ammunition were seized from the teacher's home, a permanent Risk Protection Order was granted by a judge. Administrators stated during a public meeting on Tuesday, April 11, that the teacher was initially cleared to return to the classroom. Authorities followed a threat assessment protocol, according to a Hernando County School District spokesperson.
"What the report shows is that a team of professionals made up of school, district and law enforcement personnel followed all steps of the district’s threat assessment protocol to ensure this teacher was no danger to themselves or others," the spokesperson said on Wednesday, April 12.
Teacher removed from 'all student contact'
The school district released a statement on Thursday, April 13, saying the teacher will be removed from "all student contact." It added that a date for her return will only be determined on the basis of an investigation. "This week, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office released more information regarding the incident involving a comment made by a Fox Chapel Middle School teacher on March 24th. As part of that release details, not previously known by the school district, appear in conflict with information gathered at the time of the incident," John Stratton, superintendent of schools, said in the statement.
"In light of this additional information, the school district will continue to investigate the incident and require further involvement by mental health experts. As part of our investigation, we will take a hard look at all the actions that were taken on that day, and in the days following the incident, and determine if any steps were missed," he added.
'My heart dropped'
Outraged parents, however, said that the teacher should have never been allowed back. "Anybody that makes a comment like that should not be working in a school. If a student made that comment there would be charges pressed. The child would be expelled," Mike Martini, a parent of a Fox Chapel student said, according to Fox 13. "My heart dropped the moment that I heard that it was confirmed that there was actual weapons inside of the household," said Ramis Rosario, another parent.