A former elementary teacher at the Madison County Central School in Madison County, Florida, has been arrested after she was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a 6-year-old student.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said in a release shared via Facebook on Tuesday, May 5, that Ashley Morris was taken into custody after a MCSO School Resource Deputy reviewed video footage that allegedly captured a physical interaction between Morris and the student in a classroom.
Morris, 32, has since been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly. She was released from custody one day after her arrest on Wednesday, May 6, on $2,000 bond.
Despite confirming Morris’ arrest, police have not shared any additional details regarding what happened leading up to the incident and during the altercation.
Following Morris’ arrest, the school district released a statement that included a message from Superintendent Dr. Karen Pickles.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. We take any allegation of misconduct with the utmost seriousness,” the statement read in part, according to WTXL. “While we must respect the legal process and the ongoing investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, we are committed to transparency and maintaining a safe learning environment for every child in our care.”
The district said that they took immediate action in accordance with board policy and state law after they learned of the allegations.
Morris was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigations. Additionally, she is prohibited from entering any district property or contacting students and staff while the investigation takes place.
The district made sure counselors were available at Madison County Central School to provide support for those students, families and staff members who were affected by the upsetting incident.
Employees within the district have also notified the parents of students that may have witnessed the alleged abuse.
The sheriff’s office said that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Due to the status of the investigation, police are not sharing any additional information as of time of publication.
The district also said in its statement that they’re unable to provide further details at this time due to the active status of the investigation and because the situation involves a minor.
It is not currently clear if Morris has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest.
