Ex-Volusia County school worker arrested, accused of hitting child’s head
An 80-year-old employee at Deltona Lakes Elementary School has resigned amid allegations that she slapped a student in the back of the head.
Arrest and charges
The woman was arrested under suspicion of child abuse.
A former elementary school employee has been arrested under suspicion of child abuse and allegedly slapping a student's head in the school's cafeteria, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Maria Graham worked in the Extended Day Enrichment Program at Deltona Lakes Elementary School, district officials confirmed to FOX 35.
She has since resigned from her position with the district. The alleged incident happened on Sept.
17 at Deltona Lakes Elementary School during its after-care program.
A 9-year-old girl told her mom that Graham had hit the back of her head shortly after she grabbed food and sat down in the cafeteria, which prompted the mom to contact the school's principal to review surveillance video.
According to the report, Graham accused the 9-year-old girl of attempting to skip the line, of pushing another student, and of shrugging her shoulders when threatened to have to return to the end of the line.
