A Central Texas teacher and coach was arrested Wednesday for sexually assaulting a student.
Charles Eugene Poling, 41, was arrested by the Bartlett Police Department on January 15 and charged with sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student.
Poling was a teacher and assistant football coach in Bartlett Independent School District.
Superintendent Teddy Clevenger said in a statement issued on January 16 that the district first learned of the allegations on August 23, 2024.
Clevenger said Poling, who is not named in the statement, was “immediately” placed on administrative leave.
District officials then contacted the Bartlett Police Department and Child Protective Services, which led to each conducting an investigation.
They also notified the Texas Education Agency, as required by law.
The TEA is reviewing Poling’s teaching certificate. State records show he was certified to teach history and social studies in 2014. He added a special education certification in 2020.
Online government salary records indicate that Poling taught at multiple Texas school districts over the past several years, including Tarkington ISD (2022), La Pryor ISD (2020-2021), Spring Branch ISD (2019), and Dimmitt ISD (2015-2018).
Another Texas teacher and coach, D’Marjai Dearion, was also arrested on Wednesday and charged with sexual assault of a child. Dearion worked in Longview ISD.
Texas Scorecard has covered dozens of educators charged with sex crimes involving students and other children.
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