Hendry County, Florida school principal under investigation for paddling 6-year-old student in front of child’s mother
WINK NEWS — A Clewiston school principal is under investigation for paddling a student who allegedly damaged a computer, according to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office report.
The Clewiston Police Department told WINK News they are now investigating a case of Central Elementary School Principal Melissa Carter paddling a student in front of their mother.
WINK News confirmed the Department of Children and Families is also investigating.
Some school districts allow corporal punishment, but the Hendry County School District does not.
The paddling was caught on video by the student’s mother.
WINK News is not identifying the mother to protect her and the child’s identity.
The family’s lawyer, Brent Probinsky, said Clewiston police have turned over the investigation to the State Attorney’s Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Hendry County. The state attorney’s office is deciding whether they will bring criminal charges against Carter and Cecilia Self, a clerk at school also in the video, Probinsky said.
