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Charges Against Teacher Dropped; Personnel File Shows History Of Problems

POSTED: Thursday, January 3, 2008
UPDATED: 6:57 pm EST January 3, 2008

A Duval County teacher who was accused of encouraging a man to discipline his stepson with a belt at school is no longer facing criminal charges but will soon have to answer to the school board.

Aaron Jackson, a physical education teacher at Paxon Middle School, was arrested after investigators said he encouraged a father to come to the school to whip his son with a belt.

However, less than a month after the arrest, the state attorney's office decided there was not enough evidence to file charges against Jackson.

"Coach Jackson did violate the code of ethics for teachers in Duval County by exposing this student to an unsafe condition," said Jill Johnson, of Duval County Public Schools.

Jackson has since been reassigned within the district.

Channel 4 has learned that in Jackson's more than 20 years with the district, his troubles with students and co-workers extend beyond this most recent incident.

Jackson's personnel file holds some strong accusations.

In the late '90s, a Paxon Middle School principal accused Jackson of "unprofessional conduct" and "volatile behavior."

In one letter, the principal said, "Your demeanor with students has been and continues to be an embarrassment to the entire educational setting … if your responsibilities are too much for you, I can and will advertise for a new athletic director."

In another letter, the same principal said, "Your un-professionalism and open hostility toward staff and students is absolute, direct and demeaning in every sense. You are insubordinate and continue to exhibit tantrums bordering on volatile behavior."

At one point, the school district investigated Jackson for allegedly calling a student "stupid, psycho, and acting like an idiot," in front of her peers.

The teacher was also accused of calling another student the n-word, for which files show Jackson received a written reprimand.

Jackson defended himself in one letter, stating that he always tries to work with students if they're misbehaving, and that he essentially wants to be an asset to the school district.

Also found in Jackson's file was a letter from a commissioner with the Florida Department of Education that states, "I have determined to find no probable cause to suspend or revoke your teacher's certificate."

On Monday, the Duval County School Board is expected to begin a series of actions that could end in Jackson's termination.

"School board members will be moving forward with suspension without pay for Jackson," Johnson said.

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