Creekside Middle School teacher arrested, accused of blaring music during FSA testing

Port Orange teacher Martin Reese caused a disturbance when escorted away, police say

PORT ORANGE, Fla. – A Port Orange middle school art teacher was arrested Tuesday after blaring music on campus during FSA testing, according to police.

Officer said they responded to a disturbance at Creekside Middle School, located at 6801 Airport Road, around 12:08 p.m.

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Martin Reese, an art teacher at the school, was accused of playing loud music in an effort to disrupt FSA testing, investigators said. Reese 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 police, Reese 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.

Reese left the classroom at one point and went into the school’s courtyard where he took his shirt off to show he had no weapons on him, according to an affidavit. Police said students in the cafeteria were able to see Reese shirtless and were tuning into the livestream that was posted on social media.

The affidavit said Reese called out of work Tuesday but showed up unannounced. When asked by a school official to turn down the music, Reese responded with, “I’m not disrespecting you, it’s the system,” the report said.

The school guardian told police he spoke with Reese 90 minutes before the incident occurred who told the guardian he was going to be written up by the school for playing loud music.

Reese is facing charges of disrupting a school function and disorderly conduct.

Reese was released from jail after posting bond.