A former substitute teacher has been charged with child abuse after allegedly giving a seventh-grade student a hit from her vape pen in an effort to fit in with the class.
Who is Jennifer Hale?
According to police, 50-year-old Jennifer Hale was arrested on Friday and subsequently fired from her job after the incident occurred at a middle school in Central Florida on May 2. The student who used the vape pen has not been identified due to their age but told authorities that Hale had approached him during a conversation he was having with a classmate about nicotine devices.
The student alleges that the teacher, 50-year-old Jennifer Hale, showed him the vape pen and encouraged him to take a hit before instructing the class to keep quiet about the incident. School administrators were alerted to the incident and confronted Hale, who admitted to the act and was immediately escorted off the premises. She was subsequently arrested at her home and reportedly confessed to local authorities.
Hale has been released on a $1,000 bond despite facing a third-degree felony charge of child abuse. While cops confiscated her vape pen as evidence, the student reportedly used it only once before returning it. However, he allegedly also warned the youngster to be wary of a ‘salt-like’ substance on the pen – which the boy could not identify during questioning.
The alleged incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of students and the role of educators in maintaining a healthy learning environment. The case is currently under investigation, and Hale will face legal consequences for her actions if found guilty.
