Florida Teacher Accused of Kicking Student With Disabilities

Empty classroom with police tape across desks — Photo: New Africa / Shutterstock

Deputies arrested a Florida substitute teacher after witnesses said he kicked a student with disabilities and declared, “Now we’re square.”

Story Snapshot

Witnesses told deputies the teacher kicked a special needs student at Matanzas High School.
One witness later saw a large mark on the student’s leg, according to reports.
The teacher was arrested on a child abuse charge without great bodily harm.
The teacher claims the kick was accidental after the student kicked him first.

Arrest at Matanzas High School in Flagler County

Flagler County deputies arrested substitute teacher Bryan Schewitz after an October 16 classroom incident at Matanzas High School. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said two witnesses reported physical conduct by Schewitz. One said he kicked a student with disabilities in the leg. Another said he forcefully moved the student into a chair and placed the student’s hands on a table. The Sheriff’s Office booked Schewitz on a child abuse charge without great bodily harm.

News reports say a school resource deputy learned about the incident and began the investigation. One witness told deputies the student later had a large mark on his leg. Reporters quoting the Sheriff’s Office also cited alleged remarks by Schewitz during and after the contact. He was later released on bond and faces a criminal case tied to the school event. An arrest is an allegation, not a conviction.

What Witnesses and the Teacher Reportedly Said

Witness accounts vary in focus but point to forceful contact and control. One described a kick to the student’s leg. Another described the teacher moving the student into a chair and saying, “The gloves are off.” The Sheriff’s Office account reported Schewitz said, “He kicked me and I kicked him. So now we’re square.” These details, if accurate, could support a view of retaliation during a tense classroom moment.

Schewitz has not denied contact. He told deputies the student kicked him first. He said he then stuck out his foot and accidentally kicked the student. That statement admits contact but contests intent. Intent matters for any abuse charge, because prosecutors must show more than a simple accident. The case will turn on how investigators and, if needed, a jury weigh those accounts and any records.

Why This Case Hits a National Nerve

Schools across the country struggle with crisis behavior in special education settings. Physical restraint is rare when looking at all students nationwide. Yet federal data show students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act make up about 12 percent of enrollment but about 75 percent of students who are physically restrained. That imbalance shapes how parents, teachers, and police read stories like this one.

The Government Accountability Office reported roughly 61,000 students were physically restrained in 2013–14, about one-tenth of one percent of public school students. Even so, the share involving students with disabilities was much higher. These numbers do not prove what happened in Flagler County. They do show why any report of force in a special needs classroom draws strong attention and worry from both advocates and staff.

Policy Gaps, Training, and Trust in Institutions

Teachers and administrators often report using their own bodies to manage crises rather than devices, which raises the stakes for training and split-second choices. That is especially true for substitutes, who may not know each student’s plan, triggers, or supports. When things go wrong, the system can feel stacked against families and front-line staff alike, and many believe leadership avoids hard fixes until public outrage forces action.

Florida substitute teacher busted for allegedly kicking special needs student: 'Now we're square' https://t.co/2Dh729HFc6 pic.twitter.com/1QPzLfNFdZ

— New York Post (@nypost) October 20, 2026

Parents want dignity and safety for their children. Teachers want clear rules, real training, and backup when behavior escalates. Taxpayers expect schools and sheriffs to be fair, fast, and transparent. This case will test those promises. The facts now on record are simple: witnesses report a kick and a remark suggesting payback, and the teacher says it was an accident after he was kicked first. A courtroom, not headlines, will decide what crosses the legal line.