An elementary school teacher in Florida was placed on administrative leave after attending a house party where around 200 kids were present, including students from several area schools. The party involved underage drinking, marijuana use, fights, and one kid was even seen with a gun. The teacher, Karly Anderson, was reassigned to Saturn Elementary School after the incident. Brevard County Public School Board Member Matt Susin called her actions “deplorable” and “disgusting.” Anderson was initially charged with felony child abuse but prosecutors later reduced it to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and disorderly intoxication.
Despite having her charges reduced to a misdemeanor, Anderson was allowed to continue teaching. She initially resigned from her job but then rescinded the resignation. In police body camera footage released by the Florida State Attorney’s Office, Anderson can be seen yelling at an officer. Parents of students at Saturn Elementary School, like Ashley Fernandez, expressed outrage over Anderson’s behavior, saying she shouldn’t be near a school. Superintendent Mark Rendell of Brevard Public Schools stated that Anderson’s conduct was unacceptable and that the district would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
The house party was held at the Coco Beach home of Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the former principal of Theordore Roosevelt Elementary School. The party was advertised as a “white lie party” on Snapchat, and was attended by around 200 people. In response to the incident, Florida’s House voted unanimously to keep golf courses and pickleball courts out of state parks. Prosecutors reduced Anderson’s charges from felony child abuse to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and disorderly intoxication, allowing her to retain her teaching job.
Despite the reduction in charges, many parents and school officials were appalled by Anderson’s behavior at the party and during her encounter with law enforcement. Brevard County Public School Board Member Matt Susin described her actions as deplorable and disgusting, leading to her placement on administrative leave. Parents, like Ashley Fernandez, voiced their concerns about Anderson continuing to work at a school while the matter remained unresolved. Superintendent Mark Rendell emphasized that all employees are held to the highest standard of professional behavior and that the district would conduct a fair and thorough review of the incident.
In response to the situation, the Brevard Public Schools district emphasized that Anderson’s actions were completely unacceptable and did not match the charges given. The district vowed to follow all policies and procedures to ensure a fair investigation into the matter. Anderson was seen yelling at a police officer in the body camera video released by the Florida State Attorney’s Office, expressing her frustration with the situation. Despite the controversy surrounding her actions, Anderson was allowed to continue her job as a teacher after her charges were reduced to misdemeanors.
