CRESTVIEW - The teacher of a kindergartener who was run over and killed after sneaking out of school will be recommended for firing unless she agrees to resign, an Okaloosa County school official said Thursday.
Corey Jackson, 5, was struck by a sport-utility vehicle while riding a bicycle Tuesday about 40 minutes after leaving Northwood Elementary School. He died later at a hospital. Witnesses said he lost his balance or was trying to cross busy State Road 85 about a quarter-mile from the school.
His teacher, Brenda Quinones, who began work in August, is still a probationary employee and can be fired without cause, said Mike Foxworthy, the district's human resources director.
Foxworthy said he had not yet spoken with Quinones, who left town Wednesday, but was trying to reach her.
Okaloosa Education Association executive director Denise Megiel-Rollo declined to comment.
Northwood principal Jacqueline Craig said she agreed with the decision to end Quinones' employment but declined to comment further.
School officials said Quinones called another kindergarten teacher, Shannon Boone, to tell her she was sending Corey to her room. Foxworthy declined to say why he was being sent there but added that it was not the first time.
Northwood's classrooms open directly onto sidewalks, and Quinones watched Corey through her windows until he reached the other room a few yards away.
"Another student asked a question, and she turned away," said Jeff Scroggins, a district safety specialist. "When she turned back around, the assumption was, at that time, that he walked into the classroom."
Boone was busy with her class and never realized Corey had failed to come in, Foxworthy said. He said no disciplinary action is contemplated against her.
About a half-hour later the teachers passed on the sidewalk and Quinones asked about Corey, the school officials said. Boone then realized he never came to her class and the teachers alerted a counselor and the principal, and a search began.
The boy, whose grandmother drove him to school, had taken another child's bicycle.
