Florida Teacher Facing Felony for ‘Dragging’ Middle Schooler Out of Classroom

A longtime Florida middle school teacher is facing a felony child abuse charge after investigators say she grabbed a seventh-grade student by the arm and dragged him about 20 feet from his classroom into a hallway.

Fada Concepcion, 52, a seventh-grade science teacher at Tuskawilla Middle School in Seminole County, was arrested Oct. 1 following an incident two days earlier during a third-period class.

According to investigators, Concepcion grabbed the student from his seat and pulled or dragged him by the arm out of the classroom and into an exterior hallway.

The encounter was captured by the school’s surveillance system, authorities said.

The allegation came to the attention of school administrators after the student reported what happened. Administrators reviewed the available footage and contacted law enforcement.

Investigators then interviewed 15 students who had been marked present in Concepcion’s third-period class as part of the investigation.

The student also told investigators he had been dragged from the classroom. His parent later met with school officials and deputies, provided a sworn statement and indicated that he wanted authorities to pursue the matter, according to the arrest report.

Concepcion gave investigators a different account.

She reportedly said she had no recollection of dragging the student and maintained that she had been “escorting” him out of the classroom as he repeatedly slumped down.

When investigators questioned her about what they said was shown on the surveillance recording, she reportedly could not explain the discrepancy.

Concepcion was charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony under Florida law.

Florida law defines child abuse to include intentionally causing physical or mental injury to a child, as well as committing an intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in such an injury. A conviction for child abuse that does not cause great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement can be prosecuted as a third-degree felony.

Concepcion’s attorney challenged whether the alleged conduct met that standard during a court appearance Friday.

The attorney argued that Concepcion merely grabbed the student’s arm to remove him from the classroom and emphasized that the probable cause affidavit did not describe bruising or other physical injuries.

The defense also disputed investigators’ use of the word “drag,” maintaining that Concepcion described what happened as escorting the student.

A judge nevertheless found probable cause for the case to move forward.

Prosecutors initially sought a $5,000 bond, but the judge reduced the amount to $1,000. Concepcion was ordered to have no contact with the student and was barred from returning to Tuskawilla Middle School while the case is pending.

She reportedly gave her attorney a double thumbs-up following the bond decision.

Concepcion has worked for Seminole County Public Schools for 29 years, according to the district. The school system has now placed her on administrative leave while the criminal case and internal review continue.

“We take all allegations involving our students’ safety and well-being seriously and will respond quickly,” Seminole County Public Schools said in a statement.

The district said it would continue cooperating with law enforcement and its Office of Professional Standards while the investigation proceeds.

Tuskawilla Middle School is located in the Oviedo area of Seminole County, northeast of Orlando. The district’s current staff directory lists Concepcion as a seventh-grade science teacher.

The surveillance footage at the center of the allegations has not been publicly released.

Concepcion is expected back in court in November.

Her attorney, Tony Duran, has declined to discuss the pending case publicly.

The charge remains an allegation, and Concepcion has not been convicted of a crime.