A Florida teacher has been released from jail after being accused of hurting a 5-year-old student by hitting him in the face with a ruler. Prosecutors say she even admitted to the act on video.
Crishawn Nicholson, a 25-year-old teacher, turned herself in to the police on January 9 and was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. She faces a felony child abuse charge stemming from an incident on November 21 involving one of her young students.
According to the arrest report, Nicholson initially told the boy’s mother that he had injured himself with a pencil, causing a cut on his eyebrow that needed three stitches. However, the boy gave a very different explanation.
The child’s mother, who prefers to remain anonymous, said her son told her that “his teacher hit him with a ruler.” Concerned, the mother reported the incident to the school. Two days later, the school informed the police, and the Florida Department of Children and Families launched an investigation. During a medical evaluation, the boy reportedly demonstrated how Nicholson allegedly struck him with the ruler.
Nicholson was later called to the Miami Gardens Police Department, where she was arrested. After appearing in court, she posted a $5,000 bond on January 10 and was released.
Her attorney described the incident as a “one-time hiccup” in an otherwise clean record and asked the court to allow Nicholson to continue teaching. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer acknowledged that “this could be an isolated incident.” However, the prosecutor argued against that, pointing out that Nicholson admitted on video, saying, “I did pop him.”
The judge ordered Nicholson to avoid any contact with the child and stay away from Aspire Preparatory Academy in Miami Gardens, where she worked. Nicholson’s next court date is scheduled for February 7.
Attempts to get a statement from Aspire Preparatory Academy were unsuccessful. For now, the case remains under investigation, and Nicholson’s future in teaching hangs in the balance.
