School administrator reassigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An assistant principal at Jack Yates Senior High School has been temporarily reassigned after allegations of sexual misconduct.

At least eight female students at an HISD high school told a teacher Assistant Principal Ray Gatlin touched them inappropriately and talked to them in a sexual manner.

Eyewitness News obtained an audio recording of a teacher allegedly asking female students about their interactions with an assistant principal.

In the recording, one girl said, "I be walking in the hallway, he do me like this, and I say stop touching me!"

Another student on the recording said, "He likes hearing me say don't touch me. He came into class while I was sitting down and he touched me. And I just kept saying stop touching me, stop touching me!"

According to HISD, police conducted an investigation into these claims in late May and ended up closing the case. An internal district investigation is going on now.

"An internal district investigation being conducted by Professional Standards is underway, and the employee in question is being temporarily reassigned pending the outcome of that investigation," a district spokeswoman said. "The safety of our students is always our top priority."

Community activist Gerry Monroe has been watching what goes on within HISD for years now. He said the district did not perform a thorough investigation.

"We have history and a culture at this school saying, 'we cover up things,'" Monroe said.

He said that kind of culture makes students feel powerless when something goes wrong. The Houston Federation of Teachers backs him up.

"The teacher turned the allegations over to the HISD police department," HFT President Zeph Capo said. "But the teacher was told they were closing the investigation because they couldn't find the students to investigate."

HISD's internal investigation is ongoing.

Gatlin is not charged with any wrongdoing. Eyewitness News attempted to reach Gatlin for comment and have not heard back.