MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) detectives arrested a sixth-grade teacher who is accused of telling a student to slap another student.
MCSO said Judith Clark, 64, was a teacher at Lee Middle School. According to detectives, on May 13, Clark repeatedly told a student to stop talking during class before asking the class, "Who wants to slap him?"
"None of the students were interested in doing that. They knew right then this is not normal. This is not right. The kid continued to talk and instead of handling this in an appropriate way, she asked the students again, who wants to go and slap this student who’s talking," said Randy Warren with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
WATCH: 'Who wants to slap him?': Teacher arrested for child abuse at Manatee County middle school, MCSO says
Witnesses in the class said that when the student started talking again, Clark asked the question a second time. Students did not respond to the question either time. Clark is accused of then telling two students to close the blinds of the classroom window, and then directing another student to hit the victim.
MCSO said the student complied with Clark's request and gently slapped the victim across the face with an open hand.
"That student, a 12-year-old in the sixth grade, was concerned that the teacher might retaliate against him and out of fear he told detectives that he went and he gently slapped that student on the face," said Warren.
The 12-year-old who slapped the other student is not facing charges.
"No adult especially a teacher should ever intimidate students in a classroom to the point of making them go to carry out this kind of an act. She clearly misused her position of authority and it was an act of intimidation," said Warren.
The Manatee County school district said Clark has worked at Lee Middle School since 2019. Her contract was non-renewed on April 8, and her last day of employment was set for May 29.
The sheriff's office said Clark has no prior criminal history in Manatee County.
Read full statement
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."
School administrators removed Clark from the classroom at the start of the investigation.
MCSO arrested Clark on May 19 and charged her with child abuse without great bodily harm.
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