Manatee teacher arrested after making student slap classmate, deputies say
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested a teacher on a child abuse charge after she told one student to slap another.
Judith Clark, 64, taught sixth grade at Lee Middle School, the sheriff’s office said. She was taken into custody on May 19 after the investigation of a classroom incident that occurred on May 13.
The day after the incident occurred, deputies began interviewing students and staff. During the investigation, the sheriff’s office says it learned that after repeatedly telling a student to stop talking during class, Clark asked the students twice, “Who wants to slap him?”
According to deputies, both times Clark asked, no one volunteered.
“After receiving no response, Clark instructed two students to close the classroom window blinds and then directed another student to strike the victim,” the sheriff’s office said.
Manatee County teacher charged in slapping incident
Witnesses said after instructing the student to do so, they “gently slapped” the other student “across the face with an open hand,” according to the sheriff’s office.
According to detectives, the 12-year-old student who slapped the other sixth-grader said “he was afraid of disobeying the teacher’s instructions.”
The sheriff’s office noted that the 12-year-old is not facing charges.
“Once the investigation began, school administrators removed Clark from the classroom, and she had no further contact with students,” the sheriff’s office said.
School district responds to teacher arrest
“This incident is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards or expectations we have for our employees,” a spokesperson for the School District of Manatee County said in a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald. “This arrest follows a collaborative investigation involving the School District, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Child Protective Services.”
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment for all students, and the actions described in this case are not aligned with that commitment we uphold in our schools,” the school district continued. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, take all appropriate steps to ensure accountability, and keep our school community informed.”
According to the school district, Clark started teaching in Lee Middle School in 2019, and her last day of employment was scheduled for May 29.
Clark was arrested and booked into the Manatee County Jail on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 11:22 AM.
