A longtime Florida middle school teacher was arrested after she allegedly dragged a seventh-grade student by the arm from his desk and into a hallway — an incident that was caught on school surveillance video, authorities said.
Fada Concepcion, 52, a seventh-grade science teacher at Tuskawilla Middle School in Seminole County, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of child abuse without great bodily harm following the September 29 incident.
Investigators said the confrontation happened during third period, when Concepcion allegedly grabbed the student by the arm and pulled or dragged him roughly 20 feet from the classroom into an exterior hallway.
The student later reported the encounter to school officials, who reviewed surveillance footage and contacted law enforcement, according to reporting based on the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office investigation.
Concepcion disputed the characterization when questioned by deputies, saying she had “no recollection” of dragging the student and maintaining that she had simply escorted him from the classroom.
An attorney for Concepcion — who has worked for Seminole County Public Schools for 29 years, according to the district — argued in court Friday that the incident didn’t rise to the level of child abuse.
“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 found probable cause for the case to proceed and reduced Concepcion’s bond from $5,000 to $1,000.
She was also barred from contacting the student and from returning to Tuskawilla Middle School.
Concepcion flashed a double thumbs-up to her attorney after the bond ruling before leaving the courtroom, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
Seminole County Public Schools placed Concepcion on administrative leave while the investigation is pending.
“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.”
Surveillance footage allegedly capturing the incident wasn’t immediately released.
Concepcion is scheduled to return to court in November.
Her attorney, Tony Duran, told The Post: “I don’t comment on pending litigation.”
