Another Texas educator, who has “been around children his entire work life,” has been charged with a sex crime involving a minor.

Michael Stevens, 47, was arrested Thursday and charged with online solicitation of a minor, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

Stevens is the superintendent of Itasca Independent School District in Hill County.

He was planning to travel to Houston and engage in sex acts with a person he thought was a 15-year-old female, according to Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen.

Rosen said Stevens sent “pictures of his private parts” to an undercover investigator and asked for “nude videos.”

“You must make it a priority to know what your children are doing online,” Rosen said. “As you can see by this sting operation, there are dangerous predators out there grooming our children and can cause great harm.”

Rosen said Stevens has no children but has “been around children his entire work life.”

Itasca ISD trustees chose Stevens as superintendent in March 2022.

Stevens was previously the superintendent of Channing ISD. Before that, he worked as a teacher and coach in Mesquite ISD, Palacios ISD, and Vernon ISD, then served as an assistant principal in Vernon and a secondary principal in Electra ISD.

According to the State Board for Educator Certification, Stevens received his teaching, principal, and superintendent certification in 2018.

His wife is currently listed on Itasca ISD’s online staff directory as an elementary and middle school counselor.

On Thursday evening, Itasca High School Principal Christopher Stroud posted a message on the district’s website:

Stevens was one of seven adults busted in the sting as part of the Houston Area Internet Crimes Against Children operation.

He is the latest in a string of Texas educators charged with sex crimes involving students and other minors.

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is a Senior Journalist for Texas Scorecard, reporting on state and local issues, events, and government actions that impact people in communities throughout Texas and the DFW Metroplex. A native Texan, Erin grew up in the Houston area and now lives in Collin County.

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