An assistant principal from a Florida middle school has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a 13-year-old male student, as reported by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Dr. Keiva Lark, 53, who serves at Lake Marion Creek Middle School in Poinciana, has been charged with lewd and lascivious conduct and engaging in lewd behavior with a student under her authority after the school’s principal notified law enforcement about the incident on April 4.
According to the victim’s account, he was sent to Lark’s office after he threw a crumpled piece of paper during a test. While in her office, she allegedly instructed him to massage her feet, suggesting he had nothing better to do with his hands. Witnesses, including the victim, reported that Lark removed her shoes and placed her legs across his lap.
During the foot massage, she purportedly criticized his technique and demonstrated how it should be done on his arm and shoulder. The sheriff’s office indicated that one colleague of Lark’s overheard her instructing the student to “rub her feet like he loved her,” while another witness claimed Lark expressed that she wanted him to understand “what foreplay is for when he gets a girlfriend.”
In a subsequent forensic interview, the victim revealed that Lark had referred to him as “Sexy Chocolate” in the school hallway.
Dr. Lark initially characterized her comments and actions as a joke intended to humble the student. However, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the inappropriateness of her behavior for someone in her position, particularly given her age and role as an educational administrator. He stated that her admission of impropriety, despite denying any inappropriate remarks towards the student, was troubling.
The Polk County School Board and the Florida Department of Children and Families have been informed of this situation, leading to Dr. Lark’s administrative leave. Superintendent Frederick Heid condemned her actions, asserting that such conduct is unacceptable for anyone working with students, especially an administrator. He commended the school principal for promptly reporting the incident, which enabled immediate protective measures for students in collaboration with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
