American teacher of Florida indicted for allowing 7th grader to vape because she wanted to fit it

Jennifer Hale, 50, was arrested Friday on child abuse charges after she allegedly allowed a middle schooler to try her vape pen during class.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A white Florida substitute teacher has been charged with child abuse after she allegedly allowed a seventh-grade student to take a hit off her vape pen because she “wanted to fit in.”

Jennifer Hale, 50, was working as a substitute teacher at Eutis Middle School, 40 miles northwest of Orlando, last week when she overheard a seventh-grade student talking about how his friend wanted to try vaping, according to WESH-TV.

Hale then offered the boy a hit off her vape pen.

According to a police report obtained by the station, the student said a substitute teacher named Jennifer heard his friend say he wanted to vape and told him, “I have one,” before pulling it out.

The seventh-grader then said Hale asked if he wanted a hit and told the class not to report it.

When school administrators learned of the incident — which Hale admitted to — she was escorted off campus and told to never return.

Hale was arrested and taken into custody at her Mt. Dora home on Friday. Police also took her vape pen as evidence, WFTV reported.

After being read her Miranda rights, she shared her shocking reasoning for giving the child her e-cigarette.

“We contacted her she immediately post-Miranda confessed to doing it,” Eutis Police Chief Craig Capri told WESH. “Her response was she just wanted to fit in. I don’t get it. What is there to fit in? You’re there to teach a class, not to fit in.”

Capri said Hale was charged with child abuse, which is a third-degree felony.

“She has a responsibility to that classroom to protect kids. Not abuse them,” he said.

Some parents of students at the school said they were horrified that someone in a position of authority would act as such a poor influence on their children.

“Teachers. It’s scary now,” parent Jennifer Hunter reportedly said. “I never thought a substitute teacher would give my child that or someone else’s child any of that stuff. Just other students.”

Hunter, whose son is in eighth grade, couldn’t believe the reasoning Hale provided following the alarming incident.

“They don’t need to fit in with the kids at all,” she said. “They need to be more parent-like than fitting in with the kids.”

The Lake County School District said Hale began working as a substitute teacher in November 2022 and had no prior disciplinary issues. She is no longer employed with the district.

Hale was released from Lake County jail on a $1,000 bond.