5th grader dies by suicide after being bullied by teacher, lawsuit says
A 10-year-old boy in Florida died by suicide after his parents say he was bullied by his teacher, according to a lawsuit.
www.wdbj7.com
By Daja Clayton and Akim Powell
Published: Apr. 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM GMT-5
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - A 10-year-old boy in Florida died by suicide after his parents say he was bullied by his teacher, according to a lawsuit.
Louis Johnson’s parents filed a lawsuit nearly two years after his death against the Marion County School Board on Monday.
The wrongful death lawsuit claims that fifth-grade teacher Dawn White bullied Johnson, a Legacy Elementary School student, and recruited other students to bully him.
A 10-year-old boy in Florida died by suicide after his parents say he was bullied by his teacher, according to a lawsuit.(Source: Family of Louis Johnson)
According to the lawsuit, White called Johnson “stupid” and said that he “didn’t know anything.”
“I don’t know why you’re talking because you don’t even know anything. You don’t know nothing in this class. Isn’t that right kids?” White allegedly told Johnson.
The report concluded that White chronically inflicted psychological distress on several students by “verbally insulting, humiliating, and embarrassing students,”
Johnson’s parents say they reported White’s actions to the school board and the school itself, but they did nothing.
The parents claim that as a result of the school board’s negligence, White caused Johnson to suffer depression and anxiety, which led to the death of the 10-year-old boy.
Shortly after Johnson’s death, his parents went to the school and passed out “Suicide Prevention” flyers, which detail the allegations against White.
In an investigative report from 2023 into White, more than two dozen student witnesses were interviewed about White’s behavior in class, twelve were in the classroom with Johnson.
The students claimed that White would get mad when a student got an answer wrong. They said White was scary and would sometimes make students cry. They also said she would comment about students’ grades in the classroom.
The school board didn’t renew White’s contract following the investigation.
The lawsuit names the teacher as Donna White, but school district records and other sources list her name as Dawn White.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please text or call ’988’ to connect with a skilled, caring counselor.
.this young guy didn't deserve this
