Teacher accused of stomping on child's foot in prayer room

Kingsway Christian Academy employee arrested on child abuse charge

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County Christian school teacher is accused of stomping on a child's foot hard enough to leave a bruise, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation into 53-year-old Diane Williams, a teacher at Kingsway Christian Academy in Orlando, began when a caretaker noticed a bruise on the child's foot on March 8, the affidavit said.

The child told his or her caretaker that Williams sent the child to the facility's prayer room, which is inside a bathroom in the classroom, and told the child to "talk to Jesus," deputies said.

Williams returned to the prayer room a few minutes later and stomped on the child's foot, then told the child to return to his or her seat, according to the affidavit.

The child told his or her caretaker that Williams never said sorry, the report said.

Deputies said that video footage from the classroom corroborated what the child said and showed Williams singling out and verbally berating the child.

Williams was arrested Thursday on a child abuse charge. She was released from the Orange County Jail after posting a $1,000 bond.

Officials from Kingsway Christian Academy said that Williams no longer works for the school but had been employed there for 12 years and was one of the most requested teachers.

"We love our children.  They are precious to us and precious to God.  Mrs. Williams is an amazing teacher and loved by her hundreds of students from over the years, their parents and grandparents," the statement read. 

The report said the Department of Children and Families was called in to investigate. Officials with DCF said details of the case are confidential.

 


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