BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A Brevard County teacher accused of assaulting a student has bonded out of jail early Friday morning, according to Brevard County Jail records.
Dawn Krell, 48, was arrested Thursday afternoon in Cocoa. Police said Krell is a teacher at Kennedy Middle School.
The mother of the victim spoke with News 6 about what happened to her 13-year-old son.
The mother claims her son came home from school Friday and said his teacher physically assaulted him for asking to use the restroom.
"She followed him and when they got in the hall is when she violently pushed him against the wall and pinned him there," the mother said. "Pushed him up against the wall and she held him there by his chest. Her hands were on his upper chest and she held him there against his will."
The student's mother told News 6 that her son tried to break free, but couldn't escape the teacher's hold.
The mother said she contacted the school right away, and she also contacted police. She said that police interviewed her son and other students at the school on Monday, before arresting Krell on Thursday.
"Her actions obviously justify where she's at right now and that's something she is going to have to deal with," the student's mother said.
The seventh-grader's mother said about a month ago, her son reported a less severe incident, claiming Krell grabbed his arm. The parent said that she was in contact with the school because of that incident as well.
"It's very disheartening, very discouraging. Every parent worries about their kid on a daily basis and you shouldn't have to worry about sending your kid to school," the student's mother said.
Kennedy Middle School's website profile for Krell says she has been teaching for more than 20 years.
News 6 reached out to Brevard County Public School officials, who confirmed in the statement below that Krell was a teacher at the victim's school.
"Dawn Krell is a teacher at Kennedy Middle. She has been on administrative leave during the investigation," a spokesperson for the school district said Friday. "Student safety is our top priority, and Brevard Public Schools is cooperating fully with Rockledge Police Department."