A teacher in the Grand Prairie Independent School District is accused of sexually grooming a middle school student.
Kelvin Leiva, 38, was arrested and charged with child grooming, a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.
Leiva taught English Language Arts at Arnold Middle School.
The Grand Prairie Police Department notified the school district of Leiva’s arrest on January 8.
Leiva had been on administrative leave since October 23, according to a message sent to AMS parents by Principal Dexter Dixon.
Dixon stated that the district had received an anonymous report alleging Leiva engaged in inappropriate communication with a student. Police then conducted an investigation, leading to Leiva’s arrest.
“The safety and well-being of our students are among our highest concerns,” Dixon assured parents.
A Grand Prairie mom commented online that “multiple girls” had received “inappropriate messages via social media” from Leiva.
“If you have a daughter at Arnold, talk to her. If she has social media, go through her messages,” she wrote. “And yes, he was the ‘cool teacher’ who made kids feel very comfortable with him.”
Online records show Leiva began working for Grand Prairie ISD in 2024.
Leiva does not hold a Texas teaching certificate. He is currently listed in the state’s Do Not Hire Registry as “under investigation.”
Over the past few years, hundreds of Texas school employees have been accused of sex crimes against students in districts across the state—including Grand Prairie ISD.
In 2022, Grand Prairie ISD teacher and football coach Kenrick Burns was arrested on charges of having an “intimate relationship” with a student.
In 2023, South Grand Prairie High School teacher Cody Bush was charged with improper relationship between educator and student.
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