Florida Teacher Arrested For Assaulting Student Days After Receiving ‘Teacher Of The Year’ Award

Florida Teacher Accused Of Hitting A Student Who Accused Her Of Using The N-Word In Class

A high school English teacher was arrested and charged with child abuse after she assaulted a student who accused her of using the N-word during a lesson.

Caroline Melanie Lee,60, was arrested last Friday, two days after receiving a “Teacher of The Year” award from Duval County Public Schools, and her photo was posted on the school district’s Instagram page.

Under the post, a student commented and accused Lee of using the n-word during a lesson: “Isn’t this the teacher who thought it was ok to say the n-word while reading smth for educational purposes.”

After noticing the comment, Lee requested to meet with the unnamed student to discuss the comment although the student wasn’t registered in any of her classes this year.

The female student explained to authorities that Lee reached across a table and attacked her in the face several times, causing her nose to bleed in addition to being kicked in the leg while trying to stop Lee.

According to Insider, surveillance footage showed the student exiting Lee’s classroom holding her face, and walking towards the guidance counselor’s office to report the incident. Lee initially denied attacking the student and said she understood it was the student’s word against hers but claimed she saw the student’s comment as a “threat to kill her.”

Lee worked as a teacher at Darnell-Cookman Middle and High School and she was arrested on charges of felony child abuse. She later confessed to police that she used the n-word during a reading of “Mice and Men.”

Principal Tyrus Lyles issued a letter to parents regarding Lee’s arrest and said she is permanently removed from the classroom.