Documents detailing why Collinsville Independent School District trustees voted to fire coach Derrick Jenkins confirm local parents’ reports of grooming behavior and other misconduct with students.
The documents provided by the Texas Education Agency also confirm that Jenkins has been granted an independent hearing to review the district’s proposed termination of his contract.
Jenkins has been on paid administrative leave since last October over allegations that he engaged in inappropriate communications with female students via social media—a violation of district policy and the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics.
The Collinsville Police Department and the TEA are investigating the baseball coach and high school special education teacher.
On January 19, Collinsville ISD trustees unanimously approved starting the process to fire Jenkins “for good cause,” as recommended by Superintendent Matthew Davenport.
In a notification letter to Jenkins dated January 21, Davenport detailed the causes.
During Fall 2025, the district received information that Jenkins engaged with students on Snapchat.
Davenport wrote that, based on statements from Jenkins, law enforcement, and multiple parents and students, the district believes Jenkins “improperly communicated with minor students” via Snapchat.
In December 2025, the district received a picture of Jenkins with alcohol in his hands “off school grounds surrounded by minor students who were also engaged in illegal consumption of alcohol.”
“Upon information and belief, you drank with minor students on more than one occasion,” wrote Davenport.
“Based on the preponderance of the evidence, I find that your conduct violated Board Policy and the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics,” Davenport concluded, listing multiple relevant policies and sections of the code.
Davenport also stated that Jenkins violated the terms of his contract, and that his conduct failed to comply with the district’s Employee Handbook and “demonstrated a failure to fulfill the essential functions” of his position.
The superintendent listed himself and Collinsville Police Chief Jeff Ashabranner as “witnesses to the grounds for the proposed termination.” Ashabranner just left the department, leaving Jon Cheshire—the officer heading the Jenkins investigation—as interim chief.
As allowed by state law, Jenkins requested an independent hearing examiner to review the allegations. In his undated request letter to the TEA and the district, Jenkins stated that he did not want the hearing to be open to the public.
On February 17, KXII reported that according to School Board President Jared Light, the TEA had informed the district that day that there was “a procedural error in the filing” that Jenkins submitted to the agency, and that the board would “call a special meeting to take action on Jenkins’ proposed termination.”
However, correspondence dated February 18 confirmed the appointment of an independent hearing examiner for Jenkins’ case. Collinsville ISD’s outside attorney Rebecca Bradley with Abernathy Law acknowledged receipt of the appointment email.
According to the email, the hearing examiner’s written recommendation regarding Jenkins’ proposed termination is due by April 6—although the deadline could be extended to May 20 if all parties agree.
Trustees must hold a board meeting within 20 calendar days after receiving the examiner’s recommendation, then announce their decision by 10 calendar days after the meeting.
If trustees still want to terminate Jenkins’ contract, he can appeal to the education commissioner.
Jenkins is not the only Collinsville ISD employee being investigated by the TEA.
Superintendent Davenport, Collinsville High School Principal Kim Patterson, and Athletic Director Garrett Patterson are also “under review” by the agency’s Educator Investigations Division.
Parents have alleged that Davenport and the Pattersons failed to report past complaints about Jenkins and other issues within the district’s athletics department, and that the administrators have retaliated against parents and staff who speak out.
During a February 16 school board meeting, trustees rejected calls to place the three administrators on leave while the TEA investigates but committed to hiring a third-party investigator to look into alleged wrongdoing by Collinsville ISD personnel.
On February 25, trustees held a special school board meeting to approve hiring the law firm of Adams, Lynch & Loftin to conduct an independent investigation of misconduct in the district.
Three trustees are up for re-election in May. Trustee Matt Weaver is being challenged by former Collinsville mayor Derek Kays. Trustees Ryan Patterson and Jared Light are unopposed.
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