Judith Clark, a teacher at Lee Middle School, is accused of having a student slap a classmate across the face. Courtesy: Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
BRADENTON, Fla. - A Manatee County middle school teacher was arrested after deputies said she told a student to slap a classmate who was talking.
‘Who wants to slap him?’
What we know:
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, on May 13, Judith Clark, 64, a teacher at Lee Middle School, repeatedly told a student to stop talking during class.
When the student did not quiet down, Clark reportedly asked the class who wanted to slap him.
Witnesses told deputies that when nobody volunteered and the student started talking again, Clark again asked who wanted to slap the student.
Deputies said when she got no response, she told two students to close the classroom window blinds and then directed another student to hit his classmate.
Witnesses stated that the student obeyed and gently slapped the victim across the face with an open hand.
Teacher arrested
Dig deeper:
Detectives said that the 12-year-old who slapped the victim told them that he was scared to disobey the teacher’s instructions.
The child is not facing charges.
School administrators said they removed Clark from the classroom as soon as the investigation began and she no longer had contact with students.
Clark was arrested on Tuesday and charged with child abuse.
Manatee County School District responds
What they're saying:
In a statement to FOX 13, the Manatee County School District said, "This incident is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards or expectations we have for our employees. This arrest follows a collaborative investigation involving the School District, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Child Protective Services. The District contacted the Department of Children and Families after receiving information on May 14, 2026.
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.
We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, take all appropriate steps to ensure accountability, and keep our school community informed.
The individual began employment with the School District in 2019 and worked at Lee Middle School during that time. She was non-renewed on April 8, 2026, with the last scheduled day of employment on May 29, 2026."
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, who explained how we got it through reports from responding deputies and detectives, as well as school administrators and classroom witnesses.