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Report: Substitute Teacher Cited For Slapping Student

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Hernando Today staff

Published: March 24, 2009

SPRING HILL - A substitute teacher is accused of misdemeanor battery after she reportedly slapped a student.

The incident was reported on Friday, March 13, by the Explorer K-8 student, who told the school resource officer he was hit hard enough to "make a loud noise."

The teacher, Chandra Bennington, 34, denied the accusation, saying she "tapped his cheek" to stop the 12-year-old student from screaming in her face.

The deputy continued her investigation the following Monday, when the teacher elaborated on her previous statements. She told the deputy that the student was acting out in class and refusing to complete his work. Near the end of the day, she denied the student a hall pass, which only further enraged him.

Bennington told the deputy the student screamed until he was red in the face, so she "pushed his face" to make him stop, according to a report.

Two days later, five student witnesses in the classroom were interviewed and gave consistent statements. One said Bennington slapped the student hard enough to make a "smacking sound," a report states. Another student told the deputy Bennington screamed inches from the student's face, so he screamed back. The victim responded by bumping his chest against Bennington and pushing her backwards.

On Thursday, March 19, Bennington was given a misdemeanor citation for battery.

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