Aldine ISD terminates contracts of several controversial employees

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The teacher accused of giving a student a birthday lap dance is one of several controversial staff members no longer working in the Aldine school district.

The video went viral just last week. A Nimitz substitute teenager pushed to the ground by one of her students. The argument was over a cell phone.

"It is true. Sometimes, some years are a little more challenging than others," Aldine ISD superintendent Wanda Bamberg said.

A month earlier, Stoval Middle School teacher Felicia Smith was in court after being accused of giving a student a birthday lap dance in front of her class. Tuesday was Smith's last day. She was officially terminated by the Aldine school board.

"Everything that's happened, we work with it as it rises," Bamberg said.

Bamberg also announced the termination of another faculty member, Ellen Wermeling was a counselor at McArthur High. She was arrested, accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.

"We always review our processes. We always review what we are doing. Always our number one focus has got to be our children," Bamberg said.

And Bamberg says so is those students' safety. She says this round of terminations should send that message to teachers and parents.

"We always take into consideration everything that needs to be done, and then we move forward. And we try to move forward in the most positive way possible," she said.

A new Aldine ISD police chief also was named at Tuesday night's meeting. Bamberg says she plans to work closely with him.