Duval County Substitute Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Inciting Student Fights at Middle School

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Ladejah Shaw, 29, reportedly encouraged two students to engage in a physical altercation on October 17. The incident was captured on video by several students and took place outdoors, with the rest of the class forming a circle around the fighting students.

Shaw was at the school under the employment of ESS, a company responsible for staffing substitute teachers in local school districts. Following the incident, Duval County Public Schools immediately removed Shaw from her duties and the school premises.

The school district expressed strong disapproval in a statement, emphasizing its commitment to student safety. “The alleged behavior is unacceptable, and Duval County Public Schools maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that jeopardizes student safety,” the statement read. “As a result, this individual has been permanently barred from working anywhere in the district and will no longer have access to our schools or students.”

At the time, Shaw was employed by ESS, which manages and places substitute teachers with school districts. Duval County Public Schools said Shaw was removed from the classroom and campus after the initial report was made.

“The alleged behavior is unacceptable, and Duval County Public Schools maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that jeopardizes student safety,” wrote the district in a statement. “As a result, this individual has been permanently barred from working anywhere in the district and will no longer have access to our schools or students.”

Shaw was arrested at her apartment Wednesday night and charged with two counts of felony child neglect and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child.

“Teachers are called to lead the next generation, not put them in harms way,” JSO wrote on social media.

As of publishing, Shaw remains in the Duval County jail with a bond of $15,000.