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Jacksonville school aide arrested over alleged treatment of students at Love Grove
A 64-year-old former paraprofessional at Love Grove Elementary faces four felony child-abuse counts tied to alleged incidents on May 14. The students involved attend a school serving children with special needs, including some with limited or no verbal communication.
A 64-year-old Jacksonville woman was arrested Oct. 14 on a warrant accusing her of abusing students while working as a paraprofessional at Love Grove Elementary School, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Jeanette Lynn Akers faces four counts of third-degree felony child abuse. The alleged conduct took place May 14 at the school, which serves students with special needs, including some who have limited or no verbal communication.
A witness told investigators that Akers yelled at students, pushed them into chairs and struck one child with a rolled-up paper workbook, the report says. The witness also alleged Akers spanked one student and hit another child’s hand as the student reached for a tablet. The allegations have not been proven in court.
School officials removed Akers from the classroom that day, according to the report. She was later transferred to another Duval County Public Schools facility but did not report there, investigators said.
Akers was transported from the Brevard County Jail to Jacksonville’s Pretrial Detention Facility. The warrant sets bond at $25,003 for each count and includes conditions barring contact with minors, victims or witnesses.
Duval County Public Schools had not responded to a request for comment by the time the arrest report was published.