Special needs teacher faces child abuse charges

A Polk County special needs teacher was charged with child abuse after allegations she struck one of her students, according to reports.

A school resource officer at the Jean O’Dell Learning Center was told of an incident involving Pamela A. Murphy, 59, last week, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported.

The officer was notified about the incident Monday, though it reportedly occurred on Dec. 5, according to WFLA News Channel 8.

A 7-year-old student became upset and started kicking his feet at Murphy when struck the child on the face with an open hand, a witness told Bartow police, according to Bay News 9.

She has been charged with two counts of child abuse and refused to speak to investigators after denying the charges, according to WFLA.

During the investigation, police were also informed of an incident in which Murphy called another child names and poured water over the student’s head, Bay News 9 reported. The child had taken a drink from Murphy’s water bottle, according to WFLA.

No injuries were reported in either incident, WFLA reported.

ABC Action News reports Murphy was at one point suspended from working as a substitute paraprofessional for Polk County Schools after multiple incidents with students detailed in her disciplinary record dating back to 2001.

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Special needs teacher faces child abuse charges."