August 29, 2025

Westside High School Incident Raises Safety Concerns

News Summary

A mother is demanding accountability after her daughter suffered serious injuries during a game at Westside High School. The 16-year-old girl was violently body slammed by a teacher during a pep rally game, resulting in a concussion and bruised ribs. The incident has sparked discussions about student safety and teacher conduct in schools. Legal action against the teacher is under consideration as the family seeks justice and aims to prevent future occurrences.

Jacksonville, Florida – A mother is calling for accountability after her teenage daughter suffered serious injuries during a game at Westside High School. The incident has drawn widespread attention following the release of a video showing a teacher violently body slamming the 16-year-old, Nyla Millikin, during a pep rally game of musical chairs.

The incident took place last week and resulted in Nyla sustaining a concussion and bruised ribs. Due to her injuries, she has not returned to school since the event. Witnesses reported that Nyla was already seated in a chair when the teacher forcibly grabbed her and slammed her to the ground. The impact was so severe that it reportedly knocked off her shoes.

As a result of the incident, Joanna Millikin, Nyla’s mother, is contemplating legal action against the teacher and the school. The teacher involved has been reassigned to alternative duties that do not involve contact with students and has reached out to the Millikin family with an apology. However, Joanna has voiced her frustration regarding the teacher’s actions and the adequacy of the apology, suggesting that the response has not been sufficient considering the severity of the incident.

Nyla has expressed a desire to focus on her recovery and is calling for measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. In light of this, a meeting between Joanna Millikin and the school’s principal took place. Reports indicate that the principal was shocked upon reviewing the footage and acknowledged the inappropriateness of the teacher’s conduct.

The family’s legal representative, attorney Gary Englander, confirmed that they are actively investigating the incident. He emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable in an educational environment and should never occur. Duval County Public Schools has stated they cannot provide specific details about the ongoing investigation, but they have acknowledged that the teacher has been reassigned while the inquiry is underway.

This incident has sparked a significant discussion about student safety and the standards of conduct expected from educators. Many are expressing concern over the teacher’s use of physical force in a seemingly playful setting. Parents and community members alike are advocating for clearer guidelines and training on appropriate behavior for teachers during school activities.

As the investigation progresses, the Millikin family is seeking justice not only for Nyla’s injuries but also to ensure other students are protected from similar incidents in the future. The school and the involved teacher are under scrutiny as the situation continues to unfold, with many hoping for a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding this alarming event.

In summary, the body-slamming incident at Westside High School has not only impacted Nyla Millikin’s health and safety but raised critical questions about the responsibilities of teachers and the protections in place for students in the school environment. The outcome of the ongoing investigation and any ensuing legal actions could have implications for the school district’s policies moving forward.

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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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