August 29, 2025

Teacher Body Slams Student During School Event

News Summary

A serious incident at Westside High School in Jacksonville has raised alarms about student safety after a teacher body slammed a 16-year-old student during a game of musical chairs. The student, Nyla Millikan, suffered a concussion and bruised ribs, leading to an emergency room visit. The teacher has been reassigned as an investigation is launched. Millikan’s family is seeking legal accountability, while she expresses a desire to return to school. The community is left questioning the actions of educators at school events.

Jacksonville, Florida – A 16-year-old student at Westside High School sustained serious injuries, including a concussion and bruised ribs, after being body slammed by a teacher during a game of musical chairs at a school pep rally last week. The incident, which was recorded and has since gained significant attention online, has raised concerns about student safety and the appropriate conduct of school staff during activities.

The student, Nyla Millikan, was participating in what was intended to be a fun event when the unexpected altercation occurred. Millikan expressed that the game quickly took a turn for the worse when her teacher physically grabbed her and forcefully slammed her to the ground while they were competing for a chair. Following the incident, Millikan has missed several classes due to the injuries sustained and has undergone medical assessments that confirmed her concussion and bruised ribs.

Initially, the school informed Millikan’s mother that the event was merely a “scuffle.” However, Millikan’s account of the situation provides a stark contrast to this description, detailing a moment that shifted from laughter to pain in an instant. After the confrontation, Millikan was visibly distressed and in pain, leading her mother to take her to the emergency room for medical attention.

The Duval County Public Schools district has responded to the situation by reassigning the involved teacher to non-student contact duties as they conduct an ongoing investigation through the Office of Professional Standards. As of now, the school district has not provided additional details or stated whether disciplinary actions will follow, and the teacher remains uncharged with any criminal offense related to the incident.

Millikan’s family is actively seeking accountability from both the school and the teacher involved. They have indicated plans to pursue legal action, deeming the teacher’s conduct as “inexcusable.” An attorney representing the Millikan family has been retained to investigate the incident further and to initiate potential legal proceedings against the school district.

The involved teacher reportedly reached out to Millikan after the incident, although her mother has criticized this gesture as inadequate, underscoring the need for more thorough accountability measures. A principal at Westside High School expressed surprise upon reviewing the video footage of the incident, stating that the teacher’s actions were unexpected in such a setting.

Despite experiencing trauma and physical pain from the event, Nyla Millikan has publicly expressed forgiveness toward the teacher and intends to return to school once she receives medical clearance from her doctors. The situation raises critical discussions around the roles and responsibilities of educators in maintaining a safe environment for students during school-sponsored activities and the necessary protocols to ensure student welfare.

As the investigation continues and conversations unfold around the incident, the Jacksonville community anxiously awaits updates on the outcomes and the measures that the Duval County Public Schools may implement to prevent such occurrences in the future.

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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER

The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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