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Seminole County inquiry says 6 should have reported abuse

SANFORD - Six current and former Seminole County school employees failed to properly report allegations that teacher Kathleen Garrett was abusing autistic students, according to a report released Monday.

The abuse might have been stopped had any of the six made sure state officials knew what was happening, according to the report by Andrew Thomas, an Orlando attorney hired by the School Board to determine how Garrett remained a teacher despite repeated parent complaints and even police investigations.

Thomas called for discipline for the six - two of Garrett's former principals, two assistant principals and two of her aides - if further investigation upholds his conclusions.

"I have tried to understand how Ms. Garrett, or any teacher, for that matter, could remain as a teacher despite unusually harsh treatment of children entrusted to her care," Thomas said in the report of his six-month investigation.

Garrett, 49, has resigned and is awaiting trial on five counts of child abuse. She was arrested in November after allegations she abused autistic students in her class at South Seminole Middle School in Casselberry, even chipping one boy's teeth by slamming his face into a desk.

Other allegations include beating children, humiliating them, pushing one's face into vomit and disciplining some behind closed bathroom doors, where screaming could be heard.

[Last modified June 21, 2005, 02:30:30]