Florida

Florida School Official Demoted After Instructing Teen to Injure Fellow Student

Authorities say a Florida middle school dean was demoted after an investigation revealed she sought revenge on a student she believed had injured her 8-year-old son.

The Bradenton Herald reports a Manatee school district officials discovered that her son's arm was broken Dec. 14 while playing at a bus stop. Investigators say Wende Pendleton-Wicks asked a 15-year-old boy to hurt the boy she believed hurt her son.

Pendleton-Wicks told investigators the boy texted her, saying he would pick up the boy “and drop him.'' The dean replied: “Please do.''

Both Pendleton-Wicks and the boy told investigators she later told him not to hurt the child. She says she still believes the incident in which her son was hurt was intentional, but is dropping the matter.

She was demoted to a floating substitute at Nolan Middle School. Next year, she'll return as a classroom teacher.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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