Witnesses say a Florida substitute teacher kicked a student with disabilities and then said, “Now we’re square.”
Story Snapshot
- Deputies arrested substitute Bryan Schewitz after an October 16 classroom incident at Matanzas High School.
- Two witnesses reported forceful conduct, including a kick to the student’s leg and being moved into a chair.
- A witness said Schewitz remarked, “He kicked me and I kicked him. So now we’re square.”
- Schewitz told investigators the student kicked first and his own contact was accidental.
Arrest Details and Reported Classroom Conduct
Flagler County deputies arrested substitute teacher Bryan Schewitz on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm after a school resource deputy was alerted to an incident on October 16 at Matanzas High School. The sheriff’s office account says two witnesses described physical conduct. One reported seeing Schewitz kick the student in the leg. Another said Schewitz forcefully moved the student into a chair and placed the student’s hands on a table.
One report said a witness later observed a large mark on the student’s leg, which they believed was from the contact. Deputies booked Schewitz on the child-abuse charge, and coverage noted he was released on bond. Authorities have not reported severe injury. At this stage, an arrest is an allegation, not a court finding. The school’s name and the sheriff’s office appear in multiple reports, but district leaders have not offered detailed public comment.
Statements Attributed to the Teacher and Witnesses
Local outlets reported a witness told deputies that Schewitz said, “The gloves are off,” while moving the student and placing the student’s hands on a table. Another outlet, citing the sheriff’s office, reported that Schewitz said, “He kicked me and I kicked him. So now we’re square.” These attributed remarks, if proven, could suggest retaliation rather than classroom management. Reporters credited these quotes to witness accounts and the sheriff’s summaries.
According to the sheriff’s office account, Schewitz told investigators the student kicked him first. He said he then stuck out his foot and accidentally kicked the student. Some stories described his statements about the “square” remark as shifting, but the through-line in his account is that any contact he made was unintended. His statements do not dispute contact occurred; they dispute intent.
How This Fits Into Wider Special Education Concerns
This case lands in a sensitive space where student safety, disability rights, and staff crisis response meet. Federal data show physical restraint is rare overall, but students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act make up about three quarters of reported restraints across the country. That imbalance fuels scrutiny when force or restraint happens in classrooms serving students with disabilities, even during behavioral episodes. The national figures do not decide this case; they explain why it draws close attention.
Reports often show school staff using their bodies, not devices, during crisis moments. That raises a key test in incidents like this: whether contact was a trained protective move or a prohibited act that crosses into criminal abuse. Florida law treats intentional harm to a child as a serious offense, while separate court rulings show juries weigh context and intent. Those lines matter to parents, teachers, and students who want safe classrooms and clear rules.
What Comes Next in the Case
Prosecutors will evaluate the witness accounts, any recorded statements, and any injury documentation. Defense counsel will likely stress Schewitz’s claim that the student kicked first and that his own contact was accidental. Investigators and the court could consider any available school reports, body camera recordings, or surveillance footage if permitted, plus medical or nurse records. Public access to student records may be limited by privacy laws, which can slow the release of details while the case proceeds.
Sources:
nypost.com, wftv.com, observerlocalnews.com, gao.gov, ouci.dntb.gov.ua
