Boca Ciega Teacher Accused of Striking Student in Class
John Robert Able was arrested for felony child abuse, after students say Able struck a student and used profanities while in the classroom.
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Boca Ciega High School English teacher John Robert Able, of St. Petersburg, was arrested Monday afternoon on the charge of felony child abuse.
According to Det. Sgt. Robert Burkhart, the incident happened on Friday when the school already was on lockdown. Burkhart says School Resource Officers received information concerning a student allegedly bringing a gun to school.
The school was put on lockdown, and officers located the student in question and determined there was no threat and the information was a "rumor."
It was during this lockdown that witnesses say Able "struck the student and used vulgarities while in the classroom," according to Gulfport Police School Resource Officer Jason Motte.
The student's mother was notified of the incident.
Able was placed on paid administrative leave immediately after the incident. According to Pinellas County Schools, Able has been reassigned to a worksite with no student contact while on paid administrative leave.
Melanie Marquez with Pinellas County Schools says Able was hired on Jan. 3, 2012 and was under a temporary contract to teach at Boca Ciega High School until the end of this school year. Prior to Gulfport, Able's teaching experience was with a private school in Kentucky, according to Marquez.
As of Monday afternoon, Able was at the Pinellas County Jail on $5,000 bail.
No information was provided on whether the child was injured. The student's gender and age also were not released. There are no other details at this time, with all questions referred to the Pinellas County School District.
Paul Ray
7:01 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
I am afraid this was over the top for the normally level headed Gulfport Police department. I only hope that this can be circumvented before this good teacher has his life ruined. Punishment should have been handled by the school board and not the police department, a suspension would be in order not arrest on felony charge. Let's hope the GP PD or the prosecutor will fix this serious error.
Philip Penrose
10:35 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
"...before this good teacher has his life ruined."
I don't think "good teachers" strike students and use profanities in their classroom.
I can understand wanting to do so at times.....but a "good teacher" keep it in check.
The teacher made the serious error - not the police. They did their job.
Philip Penrose
10:40 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
PS - the teacher is 6' 4" tall and weighs 250 pounds. Should he be hitting students? I think a glaring look would be enough to intimidate any student.
Paul Ray
10:44 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Then we can agree to disagree, I think the circumstances, "a lock down" and the kids father stating "it was over the top" weigh heavily in the teachers favor. I do not know how well under the panic circumstances I would react with a student acting out at the same time.
L.E. Baker
12:02 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
I know Mr. Able both professionally and personally. We worked together for 6 years as counselors in a treatement facility for delinquent juveniles. The majority of the youths we worked with had mental health disorders and would often act out aggressively/ violently towards staff and peers. To say that it was a stressful enviroment to work in would be an understatement. In those 6 years I never saw or even heard of Mr. Able laying a hand on a student even though we were authorized and trained to physically restrain aggresively acting out students to prevent them from hurting themselves or others. Mr. Able had the inate ability to verbally de-escalate the situation and redirect the student without ever putting his hands on them. I know the man as a caring, compassionate individual and dedicated child advocate who would never intentionally harm a child. Is there any evidence of abuse (injuries, marks, examinations, etc.) or just the word of a teenager who refused to follow the school's "lock down" procedures?
Mark L Grantham
8:46 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
if this teacher did what he is accused of doing, one must ask themself what transpired prior to this, to drive him "over the edge". Teaching is a thankless and demanding profession, typically, one does it out of love, a passion for installing knowledge. It is often frustrating when an educator has this passion, but the students do not have the same desire or passion.
I hope that this educator/teacher is able to be tried in a court of law and not in the court of gossip and rumors.