Terry Parker High School teacher faces suspension after fight with student, authorities say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A vote to suspend a Jacksonville high school teacher has been delayed after his lawyer alleged that witness accounts were inaccurate.

Terry Parker High School teacher Darryl Countryman is facing suspension after he was accused of fighting with a student.

According to a report, Countryman exercised poor judgment when he engaged in "inappropriate physical activity" with a student.

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The report says he flipped a student out of a chair and onto the floor.

The incident was reported on Sept. 27. Countryman called for assistance to his classroom.

A teacher and a paraprofessional arrived and said they saw Countryman holding the student on the floor and punching the student, according to the report.

The report said the incident caused scars and bruising to the student's elbow.

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Countryman also grabbed and punched the student in the head and face, and "forcefully pushed" the student's head against the floor, the report said. The teacher is also accused of putting his arm around the student's neck in an aggressive manner.

Countryman's lawyer claims an investigator on the case misquoted a teacher who reported what happened in the classroom.

"When the media broke the story, one of the teachers who observed the incident called Mr. Countryman’s attorney to express his discontent with the news article as the statements attributed to him were false," the lawyer said.

His lawyer said the allegations are false and Countryman is prepared to fight the slanderous accusations.

Countryman faces suspension for 30 working days pending board approval.

The board was slated to vote on the measure Tuesday night at the School Board Meeting but the vote has been pushed back.

Dr. Nikolai Vitti told board members that he wants to ensure accuracy of reporting before a final recommendation is made for the board's consideration.

The report said Countryman has not been investigated in the past.

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The Department of Children and Families and law enforcement are conducting separate investigations.

Duval County School Police said in the report that they are seeking charges against Countryman for felony child abuse.

Countryman's lawyer sent Action News Jax a statement:

Darryl Countryman and his attorneys are very disturbed that the Investigator from the Office of Equity and Inclusion/Professional Standards is misquoting a teacher who observed the reported incident which took place at Terry Parker High School a couple of weeks ago.

When the media broke the story, one of the teachers who observed the incident called Mr. Countryman's attorney to express his discontent with the news article as the statements attributed to him were false.  The teacher told Mr. Countryman's attorney that at no time did he observe Mr. Countryman flip the student out of a chair and onto the floor, grab or punch the student in the head and face nor did he see Mr. Countryman forcibly push the student's head against the floor causing bruises and scars.  He also never observed Mr. Countryman put his arms around the student's neck.

Mr. Countryman is deeply saddened by these false allegations, and maintains his innocence.  Mr. Countryman is prepared to fight these slanderous accusations and will take every available legal action to get back into the classroom."

- Plata Schott Law

Full email from Vitti to bard members:

Board Members,

This afternoon district staff received information from Mr. Countryman's attorney regarding alleged inaccuracies in the summary discipline report you received in this matter.  Specifically, two employee witnesses are indicating that the statements attributed to them in the reports do not accurately reflect their previous statements to the investigator.  This allegation was made to the employee's criminal defense attorney as the matter has been referred to the State Attorney's Office for possible criminal prosecution. 

We just became aware of this information and I want to ensure accuracy of reporting to the Board before a final recommendation is made for your consideration.

I contacted the chair regarding this matter.

NV"

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