Substitute teacher accused of kicking neurodivergent student: ‘Now we’re square’

WatchSubstitute teacher accused of kicking neurodivergent student: 'Now we're square'by WKRC

Bryan Schewitz, a Flagler Beach substitute teacher, was arrested on a child abuse charge after a student with disabilities said he was kicked at Matanzas High School. (Flagler County Sheriff's Office)Comment on this story0CommentShare storySharetopics: SubstituteTeacherChild abuseNeurodivergentMatanzas High SchoolFlagler CountyArrestDisabilitiesFLAGLER BEACH, Fla. (WKRC) – A substitute teacher was arrested after he allegedly kicked a neurodivergent student.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, 60-year-old Bryan Schewitz, a substitute teacher, was arrested on a child abuse charge after a student with disabilities said he was kicked at Matanzas High School, located in Flagler Beach, Florida.

The suspect was arrested after deputies investigated an Oct. 16 incident at the school.

A witness told deputies Schewitz forcefully moved the student into a chair during a behavioral episode, made the student put his hands on a table and said, “The gloves are off.” The witness said Schewitz was too rough with the student, making her uncomfortable.

Another witness said Schewitz kicked the student in the leg and later saw a large mark there. When asked how it happened, Schewitz reportedly replied, “He kicked me and I kicked him. So now we’re square.”

School officials also asked the student what happened to his leg. The student said Schewitz had kicked him, according to the sheriff’s office.

Schewitz told deputies the student had arrived late and refused to sit down to begin classwork. He said the student kicked toward him and struck his leg, so Schewitz stuck out his foot and accidentally kicked the student.

Schewitz also told deputies the student had been walking around and trying to poke other students with a pencil. He said he guided the student toward an empty chair, sat beside him, placed the student’s hands on the table and sternly said “the gloves were coming off.”

Schewitz initially denied telling a witness that he kicked the student back to even the score. He later appeared unsure whether he had made the remark and said he had told the witness the kick was accidental, according to deputies.

Sheriff Rick Staly said adults working with children, particularly those with disabilities, are expected to remain calm and should not strike students out of anger or frustration.

Schewitz was arrested and charged with the following, according to the sheriff's office:

Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore said the district takes such incidents seriously and that the behavior would not be tolerated on campus.