PASADENA, Texas – Pasadena ISD fired a substitute teacher accused of molesting students in a Jessup Elementary classroom.
School district officials say they launched an investigation Friday afternoon, after counselors reported several complaints by students who were in the classroom.
Maurlen Sandoval says she was called and told to pick her daughter up from school because of an incident that took place. She arrived to find several other parents waiting for their children, also demanding answers.
“She ran crying and said 'Mommy, he touched me in so many ways.' It broke my heart so much,” Sandoval said.
Tuesday, a robocall was sent to parents with a letter that followed.
Jessup Parent Letter by KHOU on Scribd
In the letter, principal Ryan Pavone says the contact may have been limited to touching on their backs, shoulders and legs.
All actions that don’t give nearly as much detail as what Sandoval says she heard from her daughter.
“The pain she had to tell me that this freaking bastard put his hand in her shirt,” Sandoval said.
Just as alarming, Sandoval says her daughter explained how the fondling began Thursday, but that was just directed at her. The next day, the substitute allegedly focused on more girls.
School has been out since Friday afternoon, giving investigators enough time to interview students about what they saw.
“We want PD to do their due diligence and do their job correctly and take as much time as they need to find out the truth. If an arrest needs to be made, then by all means,” said Art Del Barrio, communications director for Pasadena ISD.
School counselors will be available for students when school resumes Wednesday, but Sandoval says she will not be sending her daughter back until the investigation is complete.
Other parents who reached out to KHOU 11 saying they too will keep their kids from returning to school until the end of the investigation.
While their children weren’t victims, they say the substitute often worked with students of all ages at afterschool activities.