Another Celina ISD Coach on Leave Over Alleged Misconduct

In what parents suspect is a case of “passing the trash,” another Celina coach is on leave over allegations of misconduct.

Celina Independent School District put wrestling coach Neil Phillips on administrative leave after information was posted to social media on Friday about his conduct with students at nearby Melissa ISD, where he worked last year.

Phillips’ behavior involved demonstrating the use of an artificial intelligence (AI) program in “sexy mode” and making sexually inappropriate comments. The comments and students’ reactions were caught on video.

Administrators in Melissa ISD were allegedly made aware of the incident but allowed Phillips to quietly leave. No reports were made to the Texas Education Agency or other authorities about his conduct.

Melissa ISD Superintendent Keith Murphy released a statement Monday clarifying the district’s actions regarding Phillips. Murphy said Phillips was removed from his classroom and placed under investigation after student reports in March. Phillips resigned before the investigation concluded, and further unspecified “action” was taken based on findings. When Celina ISD later contacted Melissa ISD for a reference, Murphy said administrators provided a “truthful and accurate” account of his employment. 

According to Murphy, the district just learned of this recording and promptly reported Phillips to the State Board for Educator Certification as required by law.

Phillips was hired by Celina ISD for the 2025-26 school year as a teacher and coach at Celina High School, according to a notice sent to families over the weekend by Principal John Burdett.

“At the time of his hire, Mr. Phillips’s application denied any prior investigations, leave without pay, and/or resignation in lieu of non-renewal or termination,” wrote Burdett, adding that Phillips also had a “clear” teaching certificate.

“The information recently provided does not appear to be consistent with information received at the time of Mr. Phillips’s application. The District is investigating the discrepancy.”

Burdett stated that the district was informed about the social media post on Friday, October 31, and “immediately” placed Phillips on administrative leave while school officials investigate. He added that the district had also notified the TEA State Board for Educator Certification and referred the matter to law enforcement.

The Melissa ISD parent who posted the information about Phillips on a site called Transparency ISD responded on social media to Celina ISD placing the coach on leave.

“Went live with this news on Friday. Celina ISD put him on leave on Sunday,” he wrote. “Glad they moved swiftly but it never should have gotten to this point. We can’t allow districts to keep quiet about this stuff.”

Bottom line, if Melissa ISD had done [its] job instead of hiding him away, the people of Celina wouldn’t have had [to] rely on the word of someone who had already been removed from contact with children.

 

There is a reason why we have a system set up to prevent this sort of action. Melissa ISD leadership circumvented that system and that gave Neil Phillips a chance to tell whatever story he saw fit.

Celina ISD has suffered a series of scandals in the past few weeks involving alleged misconduct by teachers, coaches, and administrators.

Coach Caleb Elliott, son of longtime Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Bill Elliott, was accused last month of secretly recording undressed middle school student athletes in the boys’ locker room.

Elliott was a 6th grade teacher and 8th grade coach at Moore Middle School until his arrest on charges of invasive visual recording and possession of child sexual abuse material. He has since been allowed to resign.

Celina ISD is also facing two lawsuits filed by families of the coach’s victims, alleging district administrators were not only aware of Caleb Elliott’s prior predation of young boys but deliberately covered it up—possibly to protect the legacy of Celina ISD’s famed football program

One lawsuit names the district and Caleb Elliott. A second suit also targets Elliott’s now-former boss and father, Bill Elliott, as well as Superintendent Tom Maglisceau and Moore Middle School Principal Allison Ginn.

Ginn and Bill Elliott are also on administrative leave while the scandal is under investigation.

In a separate incident, Moore Middle School 6th grade teacher Jainya Walder was removed from her classroom last Thursday under suspicion of intoxication, then taken into custody and charged with child endangerment.

Previous reporting on the Celina ISD scandal: