School Board terminates teacher accused of sexual abuse

3 children told authorities Michael Worrell abused them

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board voted Tuessday night to terminate a teacher accused of sexually abusing three children.

Michael Worrell, 61, was in jail as School Board members made his termination official.

Worrell worked as a fourth-grade teacher at Greenfield Elementary School on the Southside when he was removed from the classroom on Aug. 22, according to the Duval County School District.

He was arrested on four counts of sexual battery on a child and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child.

It is unclear whether the victims were Worrell's students, but according to a police report, three children all told investigators Worrell sexually assaulted them in various local hotels from 2006 to 2012.

The victims ranged from 9- to 13-years-old at the time of the offenses.

Worrell spent nine years in the school system. He was first hired as a substitute teacher, but received a full time position in 2006 as a fourth grade teacher at S.P. Livingston.

Worrell also taught at Paxon Middle School from 2009 to 2011 before his last stint at Greenfield.

In an interview with Channel 4, Worrell's wife said she didn't believe the charges were accurate. 

"Shock," said Alma Worrell. "That's all."

Worrell is the fourth teacher in a year and a half to be arrested on sexual abuse charges.

The crimes have spurred a change in how the school board handles personnel issues.