Florida teacher, 50, is arrested for letting a seventh-grade student take a ‘hit’ from her vape pen

A substitute teacher slapped a seventh grader with her vape pen in an attempt to “fit in with the rest of the young class,” police say.

Jennifer Hale, 50, now charged with child molestation, was arrested Friday and is also out of work over the alleged incident — which took place May 2 at a Central Florida high school.

The student who allegedly used the vape pen has not been named due to his age and told police that Hale confronted her during a conversation he had with a classmate about the nicotine delivery devices.

He claimed that after overhearing their conversation, Hale “joined in” to say she had one — before brandishing it behind her desk and asking if he wanted a hit. After he conceded, she reportedly told the class to shut up about what she had just done.

School administrators quickly learned of the incident — and immediately confronted the middle-aged temp on campus during school hours. She admitted the act and was escorted off the premises with orders never to return.

Soon after, she was arrested at her home on Mt. Dora, five miles away – after which she again confessed to the local police. She then offered officers the questionable statement.

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The incident happened at this Central Florida school, Eustis Middle, about a week ago, on May 2. She was escorted off the grounds and told last week never to come back

“We contacted her, she confessed immediately after Miranda that she did it,” Eustis police chief Craig told Capri WESH after Hale’s arrest Friday, with the woman’s bizarre motive.

“Her answer was she just wanted to fit in.”

The city’s top cop appeared for a video interview with the local outlet and went on to denounce the woman’s defense.

‘I do not get it. What fits?’ he asked aloud, visibly stunned at Hale’s alleged explanation of her actions last week at Eustis Middle School.

“You’re there to teach a class, not fit in.” She has a responsibility to that class to protect children. Do not abuse it.’

Hale has since been released on $1,000 bail — despite a third-degree misdemeanor.

She is accused of child molestation once – and the police allegedly confiscated her vape pen as evidence.

According to her arrest affidavit, the unnamed child who hit the vapor only did so once before returning it.

However, during that interaction, Hale also reportedly warned the youngster to be wary of a “salty” substance on the pen – though the boy was unable to identify what that substance was during his questioning by police.

He told officers in the small town that Hale asked him not to report her and told him she didn’t want to get in trouble.

The child apparently obliged — but officers said school staffers quickly learned of Hale’s actions through another student present in the classroom.

Eutis Police Chief Craig Capri told WESH after Hale’s arrest that the temporary teacher offered her e-cigarettes because “she just wanted to fit in”

Parents at the school are now horrified after learning of the incident, including eighth grade mother Jennifer Hunter (pictured), as well as the boy’s mother, who reportedly plans to press charges

The school’s principal called Capri’s police the next day – but not before calling Hale to his office to explain.

It was then that she admitted for the first time that she gave the minor her e-cigarette. When asked for an explanation, Spencer said the sub had told him the same thing she apparently told police: that she was “just trying to fit in.”

Parents at the school are now horrified after learning of the incident – including the boy’s mother, who was “very upset” according to local outlet Inside Lake and plans to press charges.

Public records further show that a restraining order was filed between the child and the accused last week, barring Hale from personally or otherwise contacting her former student.

“Teachers,” parent Jennifer Hunter remarked to WESH, citing that grades like that should be the last thing you need to worry about when taking your kids to school

‘It is scary.’ continued the eighth grade parent. “I never thought a substitute teacher would give my child or someone else’s child anything like that. Only other students.’

She added, “They don’t have to fit the kids at all. They have to be more parent-like than fit the kids.”

Not much is known about Hale except that she started working as a substitute teacher in November 2022 and had no criminal record or disciplinary issues.

She faces up to five years in prison if convicted, as well as five years’ probation and a $5,000 fine. A hearing date has not yet been announced.