PICTURED: Teacher’s aide, 57, who was brutally beaten by 6’6″ teen student is a ‘humble’ mom-of-two

A teaching aide who was brutally beaten by a 6’6″ teen student is a ‘humble’ mom-of-two whose son attends the same high school, it has been revealed. 

Joan Naydich, 57, of Palm Coast, was thrown to the ground and knocked unconscious by an unidentified teen student on Tuesday at Matanzas High School after she took away his Nintendo Switch. 

The mother-of-two has a son Morgan, a senior, who attends the high school and a daughter who graduated in 2013. She has worked for Flagler County Schools since 2004 and has worked at Matanzas since 2021. 

‘Joan is humble, never asks for help and needs our love/support during this difficult time,’ friend and fellow parent, Jessica White Leon, wrote on GoFundMe. ‘I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Joan through our kids’ bowling team for Matanzas HS for the last six years!’ 

Flagler County deputies found Naydich with ‘severe’ injuries after she was hit by the student at least 15 times. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment. It is unclear if she is still in the hospital. 

Sheriff Rick Staly told WESH 2: ‘This could have been a homicide.’ 

Joan Naydich, 57, of Palm Coast, (pictured with Morgan) was thrown to the ground and knocked unconscious by an unidentified teen student on Tuesday at Matanzas High School

The mother-of-two (pictured together) has a son, a senior, who attends the high school and a daughter who graduated in 2013. She has worked for Flagler County Schools since 2004 and has worked at Matanzas since 2021 

The Matanzas High School student, 17, of Palm Coast, (pictured), who was not named due to his age, violently attacked the teaching aide after telling another student he was ‘going to kill her’ for taking his Nintendo Switch 

The student, who is special needs, was arrested and charged with a juvenile felony for aggravated battery with bodily harm, which faces up to five years. He is currently in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice. 

In surveillance footage, released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the hulking student can be seen rushing up to Naydich before launching her across the room, her body flying several feet. 

She hits the ground head-first, rendering her unconscious. The special needs student immediately begins kicking Naydich before kneeling down to punch her in the head and torso. 

In surveillance footage, released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the hulking student, 17, of Palm Coast, can be seen rushing up Naydich before launching her across the room

She hits the ground head-first, rendering her unconscious. The special needs student immediately begins kicking her before kneeling down to punch her in the head and torso

It takes five staff members to restrain and drag him away from Naydich’s body as he fought against them 

Another woman runs up to the student and grabs his arm, but is unable to pull him off the aide before several others rush to drag him off her.  Even after they manage to push him to the ground, he still reaches his leg out to hit Naydich a few more times. 

It takes five staff members to restrain and drag him away from her body as he fought against them. 

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office found Naydich with ‘severe injuries’ and she was transported to the hospital for treatment. 

The teen claimed he would ‘beat her up every time she takes away his game,’ and spit on Naydich as deputies escorted him away, according to the arrest report. 

He told officers while being arrested: ‘F**k you, I don’t want to go to jail. I have more important things to do’