LAKE PANASOFFKEE, Fla. – A teacher is facing charges following allegations of child abuse while working at a Sumter County elementary school, deputies say.
The investigation began after the Florida Department of Children and Families received a report on April 21 and alerted a deputy assigned to Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School.
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According to an arrest report, witnesses reported disturbing incidents involving Stephanie Arnott, a special needs teacher at the school.
One witness described seeing Arnott, 40, grab a 5-year-old student’s head, forcefully turning it toward a television, causing the child to cry.
Another teacher reported hearing a child scream in distress from Arnott’s classroom. Upon entering, the witness found the child wrapped tightly in a blanket, with Arnott restricting the child’s movement and pushing her hand against the child’s face, according to officials. The victim reportedly cried out, “You’re hurting me,” and “Ouch,” while Arnott insisted the child was going to take a nap, the arrest report states.
“It’s deeply disturbing and at the end of the day we’re here to do what’s best for kids on a daily basis,” said Logan Brown, Superintendent of Sumter County Schools.
Brown said once they were made aware of the allegations, they followed all school board protocols.
We called her into the office and we were going to release her during her probationary period and she ultimately chose to resign," Superintendent Brown said.
Arnott was taken into custody and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center. She faces two counts of abuse without great bodily harm.
Although it did not name Arnott specifically, Sumter District Schools released a statement, describing a teacher accused of abuse as a “now former” employee.
We are deeply disturbed by the arrest of one of our (now former) employees. The safety and well-being of our students is our absolute top priority, and any behavior that endangers a child is intolerable and completely contrary to the values of this district.
As soon as we were made aware of the allegations, we took immediate action in accordance with our policies, and the employee involved is no longer part of our school district. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do everything in our power to support their efforts.
We want to assure our families and community that we are committed to maintaining a safe and nurturing environment in every school. There is no place in our district for anyone who violates that trust. If you hurt a child in Sumter County, we will make sure you never work with children again.
Sumter District Schools
At the end of the day, we’re here to do what’s best for kids, and if you come within our district to hurt a child, we’ll make sure you never work with children again," Brown said.
