UPDATED November 6 with comments from Mesquite ISD.
A teacher in Mesquite Independent School District is in jail for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Chad Michael Beery, a resident of Heath, was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography (more than 10 and fewer than 50 images) and possessing visual material depicting sexual assault. Both are felony offenses.
Beery is an Academy Option teacher at Mesquite Academy, an “untraditional” accelerated learning campus for Mesquite ISD middle and high school students in grades 8 through 12.
He became certified to teach math and special education in 2018. His teaching certificate is currently under review by the Texas Education Agency.
Mesquite ISD spokeswoman Sabreana Smith told Texas Scorecard that Beery has worked for Mesquite ISD since 2018.
“Prior to his arrest, Mesquite ISD was unaware of any concerns or allegations of inappropriate behavior involving Mr. Beery,” Smith wrote in response to our inquiry. “Consistent with privacy laws, the district cannot provide additional information regarding personnel matters, except to clarify that Mr. Beery is suspended without pay, is currently under investigation by the Texas Education Agency, and will not be returning to Mesquite ISD.”
“Mesquite ISD’s foremost responsibility is the safety and well-being of our students, and we have no tolerance for the kind of illegal activity alleged in this case,” she added.
Beery was booked into the Rockwall County Jail on November 3. Bond was set at $750,000—$250,000 for the first charge and $500,000 for the second.
Local online media outlet Rockwall County News First broke the story.
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas educators have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other minors—including possessing, producing, and distributing child sex abuse material.
Thousands of educator sexual misconduct complaints have been reported to the TEA since the agency began keeping organized records in 2021.
