The shock of a Panama City Beach teacher's suspension for allegedly mistreating his special needs students settled into the Arnold High School community Wednesday. Parents found out about the allegations when it became public in a school board meeting Tuesday.
It was the hot topic among students at Arnold High School Wednesday, that one Math and ESE teacher was suspended for reportedly mistreating his special needs students.
"It's pretty messed up, I didn't expect that out of him," said Arnold High School junior Trevor Hillard.
"It almost like unbelievable, like who does something like that," added sophomore Matt Mazzorato.
44-year old Keith Christie was suspended without pay and now faces termination after according to a Bay District report, he admitted to yelling at student with Autism, "Do you want me to smack you in the face?" The report, written by the district's Human Resource Director, stated he also admitted to making his special needs students crawls on all fours and "oink" like a pig when they got an answer wrong.
"I can't say it on camera what I am thinking," said parent Carolyn Mobley.
Mobley's son, who is mildly autistic, had Christie as a teacher. She says she knew nothing about the allegations until she heard rumors at Wednesday morning's senior recognition event.
"I just wonder how much they really knew. I'm just confused and I want to find out more," Mobley added.
"We weren't tying to cover and being deceptive in this situation because we were handling it and dealing with it. You hate that things become public and you hear about stuff second hand but I think parents trust us here on the beach and at Arnold High School, that we have an open line of communication," said Arnold High School Principal, Keith Bland.
Mobley says she has no complaints with Principal Bland or the school, but she does have complaints about Keith Christie, especially after her son just admitted he too took part in the pig activity.
"It's heartbreaking and all I can do is picturing him doing that and you know my blood pressure just goes thought the roof," Mobley said.
News 13 tried to get a comment from Christie today, but when we called he hung up the phone on us. His lawyer also refused to comment.
