Woman Accused Of Assaulting Teacher Who Asked Her To 'Learn To Raise Your Child'

A Florida woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting her son's eighth-grade teacher during a parent-teacher meeting. The 34-year-old mother was reportedly enraged by the teacher's comment criticizing her parenting skills.

Stephanie Armas has been charged with one count of battery in connection with the incident that happened at Palmetto Middle School in Pinecrest on Feb. 14. The school's principal, Jesus Gonzalez, reportedly asked Armas to meet him to discuss the child's behavioral issues, NY Post reported.

During the meeting, the boy's social studies teacher, Mayade Ersoff, told Armas: "You need to learn how to raise your child." The comment angered Armas, who stood up and struck Ersoff on the left shoulder, the criminal complaint said. She also reportedly spat on the principal's desk and threw a picture frame at Ersoff. The teacher later left the room through a back door.

Armas turned herself in to the police the following day and she was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. She was released after posting a $1,500 bond.

Meanwhile, Ersoff said she still stands by her comment and does not believe that it was inappropriate. "Because teachers are human beings and especially in this situation with COVID – with everything that we've gone through – the disrespect by a lot of the students and some of the parents, it's just out of control," Ersoff told the news outlet Local 10.

However, Armas' attorney said the incidents happened after the boy complained to Ersoff about being "threatened in school." The lawyer claimed the teacher reported the matter to the principal only a few days later.

Ersoff talked about the child's disruptive behavior in class in an email to Armas but did not mention the child's complaint, the lawyer said. But the teacher said she had reported the boy's complaint "right away."

Miami-Dade County Public school officials are investigating the incident.

"The Miami-Dade County Public Schools community, including employees and visitors, is reminded to do its part by serving as positive role models for the students of this District, and avoid disrupting the safe and positive learning environment that is expected at all of our schools," the school district said in a statement.