PINECREST, FLA. (WSVN) - A parent is getting a lesson in the law after attacking a teacher at a school in Pinecrest.
A parent and a teacher didn’t see eye to eye. At least, that’s what authorities say happened on Feb. 14, during a parent-teacher meeting.
“I think she didn’t like the answers that I was telling her,” said Mayade Ersoff.
Ersoff teaches at Palmetto Middle School. She said her student’s mother, Stephanie Armas, got physical.
According to the report, Ersoff told Armas during that meeting, “You need to learn how to raise your child.”
Armas stood up, raised her right arm and struck the teacher on the left shoulder.
Ersoff shared a picture with 7News of her injury.
“Her irritation became volatile, and she lunged forward, and she slapped me really hard in the arm,” said Ersoff.
Armas is also accused of throwing a picture frame toward a wall and spitting on a desk as the teacher was leaving the office.
Authorities charged Armas with battery.
Ersoff believed that she didn’t do or say anything that was unprofessional.
“No, because nothing that I said in the meeting is unlike all the emails that went back and forth between me, her and the principal,” said Ersoff.
“The only reason the media has learned about this incident is because the teacher went to the media. My client didn’t go to the media,” said Armas’ attorney, Frank Quintero.
Armas’ attorney argued that the meeting was supposed to be about something else.
“The client’s son reported an incident where he had been assaulted or harassed in a bathroom at the school. He reported it to the teacher,” said Quintero. “The teacher did not report it immediately to the administration, to either the principal or assistant principal, as is required by school board policy. She then proceeded, three days later, to complain to my client about his behavior in class, and later that evening, my client received an email from the principal or the assistant principal advising of the quote, ‘assault and harassment’ that her son had received, and so my client is the one that asked for the meeting at the school to discuss not my client son’s behavior in class but the incident concerning the assault and harassment in the school bathroom.”
7News reached out to the school district. Their statement says: “The Miami-Dade County Public Schools community “including employees and visitors is reminded to do its part by serving as positive role models for the students of this district, and avoid disrupting the safe and positive learning environment that is expected at all of our schools.”
“Being positive also goes for the district, meaning that showing support for teachers, helping us without getting any retributions. Like, that’s why no one speaks up,” said Ersoff.
On Feb. 25, Ersoff contacted police to report she saw the student near the school.
“I got scared, and I didn’t know if the mom was there or that I would be further assaulted, so that’s why I wanted to protect myself and have Pinecrest Police come to help me,” said Ersoff.
Armas’ attorney said there are issues with that report, claiming the teacher told officers the student was expelled, but he has an email from a detective that states he wasn’t expelled.
Ersoff claims she never told detectives that.
“I hope the school initiates an administrative investigation on this teacher. We’re requesting it, asking that this teacher be investigated administratively for filing a false report against my client’s son, and the matter for which my client was arrested for,” said Quintero.
The student does not attend the middle school anymore.
The teacher wants to get a restraining order against that parent.
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