An employee of Kress Independent School District is on administrative leave while law enforcement investigates allegations that the employee engaged in “improper conduct” with a student.
A statement released Monday by Kress ISD Superintendent Leah Zeigler indicated the district received a report on August 29 that the employee “may have engaged in improper conduct involving a student.”
Zeigler stated that the district “immediately informed the Swisher County Sheriff’s Office” and also reported the allegations to “other authorities as required by law.”
She did not disclose the name or position of the employee, or any details about the allegations, but stated the person had been placed on administrative leave “pending further investigation.”
The superintendent added that district administrators were cooperating with ongoing investigations and encouraged anyone with concerns about possible educator misconduct to contact Kress ISD or local law enforcement.
“Student safety and proper professional boundaries between staff and students are top priorities for Kress ISD,” Zeigler wrote. “The District strictly enforces its policies relating to professional conduct, and employees receive regular training regarding such policies and the District’s expectations concerning appropriate interactions with students and minors.”
Zeigler said the district would not comment further on the matter.
The unnamed staff member is the tiny district’s second employee investigated for alleged misconduct in two years.
Kress ISD, located north of Lubbock, had 279 students and 54 staff during the 2022-23 school year.
In Fall 2022, Kress ISD substitute teacher Ben Rojas was investigated for “unprofessional communications with a Kress High School student” as well as providing vape products to students.
Rojas was placed on leave during the investigation and was removed from the substitute teaching list.
He also worked for the Tulia Police Department at the time the allegations were made and had been a security officer at the school.
An investigation eventually found “insufficient evidence to proceed with any charges” against Rojas for improper relationship between educator and student, but Rojas admitted to supplying an 18-year-old student with vape products—which is a crime.
The female student alleged that Rojas had offered to buy vapes for her via the Snapchat app, which he also used to request nude pictures from her.
When questioned by his superiors at Tulia PD, Rojas first denied the students’ allegations. He then admitted to buying a vape for the student and discussing personal issues with her, including his marital problems, but continued to deny requesting nude photos of the girl.
Rojas submitted a letter of resignation to the Tulia PD, but a memo from Assistant Police Chief Paul Brown indicated Rojas had been terminated for “inappropriate conduct and dishonesty.” City paperwork shows he was terminated effective November 14, 2022.
Rojas’ behavior was also reported to the Texas Education Agency, which took no action because he was not certified by the State Board for Educator Certification and had not been charged with a crime.
TEA investigator Michael Franks explained in a May 2023 email to a concerned Kress resident:
Rojas is not listed on the Do Not Hire Registry of individuals who are not eligible for hire in a Texas public school based on misconduct or criminal history.
Dozens of Texas teachers and school employees have been charged with educator misconduct involving students.
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