Florida teacher calls for change after video allegedly shows him being attacked by student
By Hayley Crombleholme
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OSCEOLA COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — An Osceola County high school teacher is calling on the district and the state to make changes after he says he was attacked by a 19-year-old student in January.
The teacher, Daniel Morris, still hasn’t returned to the classroom. He said staffing levels, training and where violent students are placed are all things he wants to be changed. Otherwise, he said he’s certain this will happen again.
“There was a moment where I felt like I wasn’t going home to my wife and two baby daughters,” Morris said.
It was Jan. 18 when Morris, a transition teacher at Tohopekaliga High School, was allegedly attacked by a student. The alleged attack was captured on video provided by Morris.
“Nineteen years old. He was over 300 pounds. About 6 feet and 5 inches tall,” Morris said.
Morris teaches students ranging from ages 18 to 22. Many of them have special needs.
The incident report from the sheriff’s office as shared by Morris identifies the student as having an autism spectrum disorder.
“From what I can remember, I was pushed down immediately,” Morris said. “And then just took several blows to the head. Several punches to the head. Then the student jumped on my body with both feet.”
Morris said he suffered a concussion and headaches and nausea that lasted for a while.
He went before the school board last month asking for something to be done.
“You see, I knew this would happen. He told me he was going to kill me. He told me he was going to break my legs,” Morris said at the meeting.
Morris said he reached out to the district with concerns before the incident. As of Monday night, the district did not return WESH 2’s request for comment.
Morris feels part of the problem comes down to staffing shortages.
“This student was supposed to have a designated special needs assistant to be with him at all times per his IEP,” Morris said. “However that was not fulfilled.”
An IEP, or individualized education program, outlines special education services for eligible students.
Morris also thinks paraprofessionals and teachers need more training, and that there should be a different place for students who exhibit violent behavior.
“Really the call to action more is having the right place for these students to go,” Morris said. “Where the placement is appropriate where we can handle those types of behaviors in a safe environment.”
Morris is returning to work for the first time this Wednesday — more than a month since the attack. But he won’t be returning to the same school.
Morris says starting Wednesday he will be working with the district team to put some new measures or curricula in place for students with special needs.
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