Two Eagle Pass ISD Teachers Being Investigated for Alleged Abuse of Students
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Superintendent Samuel Mijares announced on Thursday, March 31, 2022, that two teachers are currently being investigated for allegedly physically abusing students and placed on leave with pay while the investigations are completed.
Local news sources have reported one teacher at a local high school is being investigated for allegedly slapping a student while another teacher at an elementary school is also being investigated for physically abusing a student.
Mijares stated the EPISD is conducting a full and thorough investigation of the two cases raised by the parents of the students. He added that all complaints against any school district employee should be made with the principal of each school.
Due to the privacy rights of the students and those of the teachers being investigated, Mijares stated he could not provide any specific details concerning the two complaints made against these two local teachers. However, Mijares confirmed that there are two ongoing investigations being conducted by the school district.
Mijares stated the school district will take any appropriate actions necessary in the event the investigations find that inappropriate conduct was committed by school personnel.
Mijares noted that both state law and EPISD policy prohibits school teachers and staff members from committing any physical abuse of students.
According to the EPISD website, the district has 810 teachers and 1,737 full time staff members working in 24 school campuses serving 13,300 students.
Mijares did not elaborate if the EPISD has mental health counselors available to students who allegedly are victims of physical abuse by a school teacher.
Both civil and criminal claims may arise against the teachers if the investigations find that inappropriate behavior was committed against the students.
