A Florida middle school teacher is facing criminal charges after authorities say she ordered a student to slap a classmate who would not stop talking during class.
The alleged incident happened on Wednesday, May 13, inside a sixth grade classroom at Electa Lee Magnet Middle School in Bradenton, Florida.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, 64-year-old teacher Judith Clark repeatedly told a student to stop talking during class. When the boy kept talking to other students at his table, Clark allegedly asked the room, “Who wants to slap him?”
Authorities said no students volunteered.
But when the boy started talking again, Clark allegedly asked the class a second time if anyone wanted to slap him.
Again, no one came forward.
That is when investigators say the situation became even more disturbing. Clark allegedly told two students to shut the window blinds in the classroom, then ordered a 12-year-old student to hit the boy who had been talking.
The 12-year-old student reportedly slapped the classmate gently across the face. According to authorities, the child later told deputies he was afraid to disobey the teacher.
Court records say the boy who was slapped admitted he had been talking to other students at his table.
The incident came to light after the student who allegedly slapped the classmate told his parents what the teacher had asked him to do. His parents then reported it.
Once the investigation began, school administrators removed Clark from the classroom, and she had no further contact with students, according to the sheriff’s office.
Clark was arrested on Tuesday, May 19, without incident and booked into the Manatee County Jail. She has been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm.
She was later released on a $7,500 bond. As part of her release conditions, Clark is not allowed to have contact with the alleged victim or anyone under the age of 18.
Randy Warren, public information officer for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, said the allegations were especially troubling because of Clark’s position in the classroom.
“It’s troubling because she used her position of authority to intimidate kids in this classroom,” Warren told WFLA.
Manatee County Schools also addressed the case in a statement.
Jamie Carson, the district’s director of communications, called the incident “deeply concerning” and said the alleged behavior did not meet the district’s expectations for employees.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” Carson said. “We are committed to providing a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment for all students, and the actions described in this case are not aligned with that commitment we uphold in our schools.”
The district said Clark began working for the school system in 2019 and had been assigned to Lee Middle School during that time. Carson said Clark was “non-renewed” on April 8, 2026, with her last scheduled day of employment set for May 29, 2026.
It is unclear whether Clark has hired an attorney to speak on her behalf.
