Discipline hearing for Terry Parker High teacher accused of fight with student postponed

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Terry Parker High School teacher is facing a possible suspension and Action News Jax is learning more about the incident that landed him in trouble.

Darryl Countryman is accused of physically attacking a student. Tuesday, the Duval County School Board was set to discuss the allegations and possible consequences.

Action News Jax obtained the nine-page investigative report detailing those allegations. It outlines an incident from Sept. 27, when Countryman allegedly attacked a ninth-grade male student inside his classroom.

The report states Countryman punched the student. The document also details witness accounts, when investigators interviewed witnesses on Oct. 18.

Witnesses say Countryman walked over to the student and slapped his phone out of his hand. The report says he then started pushing him in his face. The student told the teacher to stop; that’s when the teacher pushed him out of his chair, the report said.

Tuesday night, the Duval County School Board was scheduled to discuss the investigation, but 90 minutes before the meeting, the item was removed from the agenda, due to new information released to Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti about the case.

Vitti released a statement, saying in part, "Two employee witnesses are indicating that the statements attributed to them in the reports do not accurately reflect their previous statements to the investigator. I want to ensure accuracy of reporting to the board before a final recommendation is made for your consideration."

Countryman's attorney claims an eyewitness came forward saying the report is not accurate. The attorney says in part, "The teacher told Mr. Countryman's attorney that at no time did he observe Mr. Countryman flip the student out of a chair on the floor, grab or punch the student in the head and face. Mr. Countryman is prepared to fight these slanderous accusations and will take every available legal action to get back into the classroom."

Cox Media Group