Central Florida high school staff member charged with child abuse

Fifty-year-old Dontel Wright appeared before a judge. The paraprofessional at Seabreeze High School was charged with child abuse.Police say Dontel Wright kicked a 17-year-old student with Down syndrome during an incident at a Daytona Beach school. Investigators say the student was having a difficult day because a favorite teacher was absent, which police described as a trigger that caused the teen to struggle with coping. Authorities say the student was not aggressive toward Wright at any point.Despite that, police allege Wright kicked the student, pulled him out from under the bleachers and shoved him to the floor.People who knew Wright said they were shocked by the allegations, describing him as a “nice guy.”The school district said Wright had been investigated four times since 2019 for incidents involving students with disabilities. Two of those investigations were sustained. In 2021, he was given a warning after the district said he “‘…playfully’ slapped a student on the head several times.”In 2025, he shoved a student and was disciplined and required to undergo additional training. According to district records, he’s been an employee for over a decade.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —

Fifty-year-old Dontel Wright appeared before a judge. The paraprofessional at Seabreeze High School was charged with child abuse.

Police say Dontel Wright kicked a 17-year-old student with Down syndrome during an incident at a Daytona Beach school. Investigators say the student was having a difficult day because a favorite teacher was absent, which police described as a trigger that caused the teen to struggle with coping. Authorities say the student was not aggressive toward Wright at any point.

Despite that, police allege Wright kicked the student, pulled him out from under the bleachers and shoved him to the floor.

People who knew Wright said they were shocked by the allegations, describing him as a “nice guy.”

The school district said Wright had been investigated four times since 2019 for incidents involving students with disabilities.

Two of those investigations were sustained. In 2021, he was given a warning after the district said he “‘…playfully’ slapped a student on the head several times.”

In 2025, he shoved a student and was disciplined and required to undergo additional training. According to district records, he’s been an employee for over a decade.