Florida Teacher Caught Punching Preschool Student on the Head More than Once

A Florida teacher, caught punching a preschool student on the head repeatedly, is facing charges for her actions, which were witnessed by her colleagues.

Ashley Richards, who works at the KinderCare Learning Center, has been accused of child abuse after witnesses said she punched a student more than once "with both an open and closed fist." The 32-year-old teacher was also heard yelling at the child on the school playground, threatening the 4-year-old boy she will continue to hit him.

Witnesses called the police while some pulled out their phones to record the incident for the authorities. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office press release, the officers were able to review the captured videos for their investigations.

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The child was punished for arguing with his brother

However, while in custody, Richards told the police that she simply placed her hand on the boy's mouth when he started laughing about an undisclosed reason. She claimed that she was trying to console the boy because he was upset. The teacher denied that she punched or abused the preschooler. She did not specify what made the child upset, per Tampa Bay Times.

The cops, however, heard a different account of the incident from the 4-year-old boy, who said that the teacher hit him on the head and eyes "as a form of punishment" because he was arguing with his brother. The school placed the teacher on administrative leave immediately following her arrest but some reports stated she was eventually fired. 

KinderCare Learning Center also issued a statement saying that Richard's actions "do not reflect" the school or the training they provide their educators. Richards has been employed by the school since March 2021.

The teacher, however, has paid a $5,000 bond and is no longer in police custody. She will be back in court to face the charges against her while the investigations are still ongoing.

Parents were shocked to learn of the incident and the allegations against the teacher. One parent said that Richards was always respectful to him, his children and their family.

Florida teacher beat one-month-old baby

Meanwhile, over at Clay County in Florida, Gabriel Quant, 41, a high school Spanish teacher, was arrested on similar charges of child abuse for beating his month-old baby. Quant brought his child to the Wolfson Children's Hospital, where medical workers saw that she had severe bruising on her buttocks.

Quant admitted he "snapped" at his baby while changing her diaper and spanked her repeatedly. He didn't realize he injured the child, adding that he has been under extreme stress following his mother's death.

Clay County District Schools issued a statement following Quant's arrest and said that the allegations are "not directly related to the employee's teaching duties." However, Quant is currently suspended while the investigations are ongoing. His bond was set at $100,000, per News4Jax.

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