Two North Texas teachers were placed on administrative leave this month over unrelated allegations of misconduct. Both worked for school districts in Grayson County.
Van Alstyne Independent School District placed a kindergarten teacher on leave; the teacher has since resigned.
Sanford Elementary Principal Kristi Odom sent a notice to families stating that “Mrs. Jones” was “involved in an incident that does not meet our district’s standards for student safety.”
The teacher appears to be Sonya Jones, who was previously listed as a kindergarten teacher at Sanford Elementary. She is no longer listed in the school’s staff directory.
Van Alstyne ISD Police Chief Jeff Burge told KTEN last week that there is an “active criminal investigation” and “CPS is involved,” but he did not name the teacher or campus.
Burge also stated that a report had been filed with the State Board for Educator Certification.
State records show that no teacher named Sonya Jones is currently under review by the Texas Education Agency, nor is Jones listed in the Do Not Hire Registry as under investigation.
In a separate case, Pottsboro ISD is investigating a theater teacher for possible misconduct.
Superintendent Kevin Matthews notified families earlier this month that teacher Kelly Rhoads was under investigation for “alleged inappropriate communication” with a student.
Rhoads was a 7th grade theater teacher. Matthews stated that Rhoads was “no longer on the campus pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Several parents commented on the Grayson County Scanner Facebook page that Rhoads was the subject of multiple complaints for using inappropriate language in class and being rude to families.
“All I’m going to say is we aren’t fond of his attitude, the way he teaches, or the way he talks to the students,” one mom commented. “Lots of complaints, lots of parent-teacher meetings.”
Rhoads has worked for four different school districts in the last five years.
Last school year, Rhoads was a Sherman ISD middle school theater director. Online records show he previously taught in Mabank ISD in 2024 and in Killeen ISD in 2022 and 2023.
Rhoads has held a Texas teaching certificate since 2022. He is not shown as currently under review by the TEA.
In recent years, thousands of educators in North Texas and across the state have been reported to the TEA for physical and sexual misconduct. Hundreds have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other minors.
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