BRADENTON, Fla. –
Two mothers are on a mission to protect Manatee County students after alleging their children were victimized by teachers.
“I’m here to raise my voice and stand up for them,” said Beverly Hernandez.
The backstory:
Oliver Fell, a former Exceptional Student Education Teacher at Haile Middle School, was arrested by
Manatee County deputies
for allegedly sending a nude Snapchat photo and vulgar messages to Beverly Hernandez’s 14-year-old son.
Oliver Fell mugshot courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
“I think he’s confused, and he can’t grasp the severity of the situation right now,” said Hernandez.
At B.D Gullett Elementary School, a mother who wished to remain anonymous reported that her daughter received an inappropriate letter from her teacher.
The letter read, “I truly love you” and concluded with “I’ll keep our notes between us and won’t show your friends. So you do the same.”
Courtesy: Mallard Perez Personal Injury Trial Attorneys
“This has been a nightmare. Our daughter will require a long healing process,” the mother stated.
Dig deeper:
Both families encourage students with similar experiences to come forward.
“We are investigating the details of what happened, as there were clear failures,” explained Alan Perez.
The families are now working with Mallard Perez Personal Injury Trial Attorneys from Sarasota.
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“We want parents to feel secure when dropping off their kids at school. They should come home safe, not having been victimized. Schools should focus on education, not inappropriate interactions with teachers,” emphasized Damian Mallard.
“I’m fighting for my son and for every child who has felt silenced. These issues need to be reported,” added Hernandez.
The other side:
Manatee County School Board Chair Chad Choate remarked that changes are forthcoming.
“I don’t believe this is a systemic issue. It appears to be a case of a few bad actors affecting the perception of many,” stated Choate.
The Manatee County School District confirmed both teachers are reported to the Florida Department of Education.
The State Attorney’s Office is reviewing the matters involving the two teachers, while the district is cooperating fully with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office regarding investigations related to unlawful communications with students.
Both teachers were reassigned to positions with no student contact for the duration of their employment.
Gullett’s fifth-grade teacher Jarrett Williams resigned while under investigation. Fell was unanimously terminated by the School Board.
What’s next:
Mallard Perez Personal Injury Trial Attorneys have filed a notice of intent to take legal action against the Manatee County School Board.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported a capias for cyberstalking linked to harassment sent to the State Attorney’s Office on May 20, 2025.
The State Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the case concerning the former teacher from B.D. Gullett Elementary.
The Source: Information was gathered by Fox 13’s Kimberly Kuizon through the Manatee Co. Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee Co. School District, and the students’ families.
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Key Information
- Location: Bradenton, Florida
- Individuals Involved: Beverly Hernandez, Oliver Fell (former teacher), students and parents at B.D Gullett Elementary
- Incidents: Alleged inappropriate conduct involving sending nude images and inappropriate letters
- Actions Taken: Arrest of Oliver Fell, resignation of Jarrett Williams, termination of Fell by School Board
- Legal Actions: Notice of intent filed by Mallard Perez Personal Injury Trial Attorneys
Article original publish date: 2025-06-17 07:00:00
Article source: www.fox13news.com
Read the full story at the original source: www.fox13news.com
