Latest news with #SeminoleCountySchools
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Special needs expert ‘heartbroken' after substitute teacher allegedly punches autistic student
A substitute teacher in Seminole County is now out of the job. Jeffrey Jung, 27, was fired after allegedly throwing punches at a student. To make matters worse, that student has autism and is nonverbal. 'My son has autism, so it is disappointing to hear news like this,' a father said outside Sanford High on Friday. Parents in the area said no student should be exposed to aggression, but especially those with special needs. According to the police report, the incident happened inside the classroom. Witnesses say Jung confronted the teen for allegedly causing a nosebleed on another student. 'Schools should be better prepared, better trained,' the father said. According to police, the victim was lying on a mat in the classroom, then Jung allegedly leaned down and punched him in the ribs and arm. The incident report, issued by a school resource officer, confirms the teen has autism and is nonverbal. 'Autism is a spectrum and anyone on it is an individual. However, about 40% of those individuals are considered intellectually disabled and about another 25% are borderline intellectually disabled,' said Margaret Thornton, when she learned about the incident. She is the chief operations officer at Opportunity Community Ability Inc., an organization that provides training for individuals with special needs in the community. 'I immediately feel heartbroken for that student and their family because their life has been forever changed,' she said. Seminole County Schools said every substitute teacher, including Jung, is certified with Exceptional Student Education, or ESE. 'ESE is an umbrella. It manages a variety of different learning styles, cognitive levels. It's not quite as specific as a deaf and hard of hearing credential or a visually impaired credential, but it is for students that will be teaching individuals with special needs,' Thornton explained. Although ESE training is necessary, it might not be enough when it comes to autism, according to the expert. 'A public educator who's working with children on the spectrum probably already has an ESC certificate. I would urge them honestly to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder endorsement, which is an additional level of education,' Thornton said. 'But what they also may need to invest in in the school system is working on teaching emotional intelligence and recognizing as an educator how we are feeling as we're working through the struggles of teaching individuals that need more support and maybe create more challenges.' Jung worked as a substitute teacher in Seminole County since August 2024. He was charged with battery and has posted $1,000 bail. The Seminole County school district sent the following statement regarding the case: 'Any allegations of misconduct by our staff will be taken seriously and handled quickly. We will continue to fully cooperate and assist law enforcement as they continue their investigation. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and any type of behavior that jeopardizes that safety will not be tolerated in Seminole County Public Schools.' The Sanford Police Department is the leading agency investigating the case. As of Friday, the department said there were no updates on the investigation. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Seminole High School substitute teacher arrested for punching student with autism: deputies
The Brief A substitute teacher was taken to jail for punching a nonverbal student with autism in a classroom at Seminole High School on Monday, according to an arrest affidavit. The 27-year-old admitted to police he placed his hands on the victim for no reason. The school district confirmed that he is no longer a Seminole County Schools employee. ORLANDO, Fla. - A Seminole County substitute teacher was taken to jail for punching a nonverbal student with autism, according to an arrest affidavit. The incident reportedly happened on Monday in a classroom at Seminole High School. What we know Jeffrey Jung, 27, was arrested on a battery charge after staff members reported that Jung had struck a student, punching the victim in the ribs and arm area. It's unclear what led to the attack, but witnesses reported hearing Jung say, "you made Matthew's nose f**king bleed," before he leaned down onto the student. Jung admitted to police that he placed his hands on the victim for no reason. Jung was booked into the Seminole County Jail. He was later released after posting $1,000 bond. As of Friday morning, Jung had no court hearings scheduled. What they're saying According to Seminole County Schools, Jung is no longer employed as a substitute. He had been serving as a long-term substitute with the district since August 2024. "Any allegations of misconduct by our staff will be taken seriously and handled quickly. We will continue to fully cooperate and assist law enforcement as they continue their investigation.," a spokesperson for the district said. "The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and any type of behavior that jeopardizes that safety will not be tolerated in Seminole County Public Schools." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Sanford Police Department.
