In the most recent incident, Darnell-Cookman teacher Brian Orr was allegedly caught on video slapping a student’s butt. A substitute teacher was arrested days prior.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The recent arrests of school district employees and contracted substitute teachers have raised questions about the people being tasked with taking care of and educating Jacksonville’s children.
A Duval County Public Schools teacher, Brian Orr, is accused of grabbing a student’s arm and slapping her on the buttocks, according to an arrest report obtained by First Coast News. The incident was captured on school surveillance video.
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The arrest report also says Orr sent an email to students and school board employees, stating, “I’ve decided to out myself as a serial rapist and abuser.”
Orr was arrested Sept. 24 on charges of on charges of offenses against students by an authority figure, lewd touching of a minor, and child abuse.
The arrest was just days after another Duval County school employee was arrested.
A First Coast High School substitute teacher, 27-year-old Cameron Coverson, was arrested Sept. 21 on two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier issued a video message to employees following the arrests: “Enough is enough.”
“I must be absolutely clear, there is no tolerance for any act that harms a child or puts a child at risk,” Dr. Bernier said. “I must be absolutely clear, there is no tolerance for any act that harms a child or puts a child at risk.”
The two arrests have raised concerns about student safety and what parents should watch for.
First Coast News spoke with crime and safety expert Mark Baughman about warning signs parents may notice when something may be wrong with a child’s relationship with an adult at school.
Baughman says parents should pay attention to how their children talk about teachers and other school employees.
“There’s little indicators, maybe all the sudden the student starts calling the teacher by their first name. If I’m a parent, it would be a little concerning. It’s either usually Ms. or Mr., or whatever it may be, just out of sheer respect for the position. But more over, a professional way of doing it.
First Coast News also reported on several arrests involving school employees during the 2025-2026 school year. Four teachers, a security guard, and a school resource officer were arrested for child sex crimes or other offenses against students, and a principal was arrested allegedly failing to report suspected abuse.
Baughman says school resource officers can also be part of the safety net when concerns arise at school.
“Another part of their job is to make administration aware. There’s a relationship here that seems suspect. I’ve been hearing in the halls, obviously students like to talk and SROs, if they’re really smart, they’ll make little informants out there to get information,” Baughman said.
DCPS says parents can report suspected employee misconduct through DuvalSchools.org on the district’s Human Resources page.
First Coast News has reached out to DCPS for more information about what additional safeguards are currently in place when hiring employees. We are still waiting to hear back.