UPDATED September 10 with information from Midway ISD.
A Central Texas high school teacher and girls’ coach who was previously reported to the state for sexual misconduct was arrested for having sex with underage boys.
Shelby Dawn Lashombe, 25, was charged with one count of sexual assault of a child and two counts of improper relationship between educator and student—although Lashombe said the boys were not students at the schools where she worked.
Both offenses are second-degree felonies punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
According to a report by KWTX, the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office received a tip on August 24 that Lashombe was seen kissing a 16-year-old boy in Elm Mott.
The boy confirmed to investigators that he and Lashombe had engaged in sexual intercourse more than once, and that the teacher knew he was underage.
Investigators allege Lashombe then admitted to having sexual encounters with the boy, whose family she knew, for the past six months and also to having sex with another male under 17 years old, the age of consent in Texas.
The teacher allegedly told investigators that she knew the boys were students but they did not attend the school where she worked.
Lashombe was working in Valley Mills Independent School District at the time of her arrest.
Superintendent Chris Dowdy confirmed to Texas Scorecard that Lashombe began working at Valley Mills High School as a teacher and girls’ coach in July 2025.
Dowdy released a statement indicating Lashombe resigned on September 3.
On September 5, Valley Mills ISD was notified of her arrest on charges of alleged sexual assault of a child and an inappropriate relationship between an educator and a student. Upon learning of her arrest, VMISD immediately notified parents and staff members. The McLennan County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that none of the allegations involve Valley Mills ISD students.
Dowdy stated the district has initiated an internal investigation and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.
Lashombe previously worked for Midway ISD and West ISD.
Midway ISD spokeswoman Emily Parks confirmed that Lashombe was a math teacher and coach at Midway Middle School for the 2024-25 school year.
West ISD Superintendent David Truitt confirmed that Lashombe was a math teacher and coach at West High School during the 2023-24 school year.
“The district placed her on Administrative Leave on December 20, 2023, and a TEA Misconduct Report was submitted on January 31, 2024,” Truitt told Texas Scorecard. “Ms. Lashombe remained on Administrative Leave and did not return to duty in any capacity at West ISD.”
Educator misconduct reporting data published by the Open Records Project shows that West ISD reported Lashombe to the Texas Education Agency for an improper relationship with a student or minor. TEA logged the report on February 1, 2024, but did not open an investigation.
Lashombe was certified to teach math in May 2023. Her teaching certificate is now under review by the TEA.
McLennan County has no online jail or court records for Lashombe.
Hundreds of Texas educators have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children in just the past few years.
Thousands of educator sexual misconduct complaints have been reported to the TEA since the agency began keeping organized records in 2021.
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