A veteran Florida middle school teacher is facing a child abuse charge after authorities said she pulled a seventh-grade student from his desk and dragged him into a hallway. The alleged encounter was captured on school surveillance video, investigators said.
Fada Concepcion, 52, teaches seventh-grade science at Tuskawilla Middle School in Seminole County. She was arrested Thursday on suspicion of child abuse without great bodily harm in connection with the September 29 incident.
According to investigators, the incident occurred during third period. Concepcion allegedly seized the student by the arm and pulled him approximately 20 feet from the classroom into an outdoor hallway.
The student later notified school officials, who reviewed surveillance footage and then alerted law enforcement, reports citing the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office investigation said.
When questioned by deputies, Concepcion rejected the description of the incident. She said she had “no recollection” of dragging the student and maintained that she had only escorted him out of the classroom.
Concepcion’s attorney said in court Friday that the allegations did not meet the legal threshold for child abuse. The district has said Concepcion has worked for Seminole County Public Schools for 29 years.
“The student was misbehaving, and my client used the word ‘escorting’… the detective used the words ‘drag,’” the attorney said, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
“Basically, grabbed the child by the arm and took him out of the classroom – and there’s no indication in this probable cause affidavit that the student was injured in any way, no bruising on the arm, no other type of injury,” the attorney said. “Child abuse requires more than just touching a child.”
A judge determined there was probable cause for the case to move forward and lowered Concepcion’s bond from $5,000 to $1,000.
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As conditions of her release, Concepcion was ordered to avoid contact with the student and prohibited from returning to Tuskawilla Middle School.
After the bond hearing, Concepcion gave her attorney two thumbs-up before leaving the courtroom, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
Seminole County Public Schools has placed Concepcion on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
“We take all allegations involving our students’ safety and well-being seriously and will respond quickly,” a district spokesperson said.
“This teacher is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and the Office of Professional Standards in accordance with district policies and procedures.”
The surveillance video reportedly used in the investigation had not been publicly released as of the latest reports.
Concepcion is expected back in court in November.
Her attorney, Tony Duran, told The Post, “I don’t comment on pending litigation.”
