HISD employee placed on leave after 2 toddlers walk blocks away from school unsupervised

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- What was supposed to be a bathroom break, ended in two toddlers walking blocks away from their school and found by a stranger, according to one Houston mother.

Ryen Harris told ABC13 that's what happened to her daughter and another student at MacGregor Elementary School in Houston's Museum District.

"I'm very upset. I'm very emotional and I'm very hurt because it's my baby," Harris said.

The Houston Independent School District said an employee was placed on administrative leave as a result of this.

Harris said that her daughter's school repeatedly called her last Wednesday to speak with the principal, but told her it wasn't an emergency.

"She was calm and said, 'Hi. Aria went missing from our school. She was found at the corner of Blodgett and Le Branch.' I immediately just went in a frenzy," Harris said. "They don't know how she got out. She was supposed to be going to the restroom."

According to Harris, the principal said a security guard was patrolling the school at the time, and the person at the front office stepped away briefly. Harris said she was also shown surveillance video of the two students leaving.

"Nobody in the office," Harris said. "No security in the front at all. They both gathered all of their might to push the door open and walked right out the door."

They crossed two streets before someone in the neighborhood called the police, according to Harris.

A walk, she said, that wouldn't have been physically easy for her daughter.

"My daughter has a disability, so walking for long periods of time, that hurts her hips," Harris said. "She has a hip flexor."

Houston Police told ABC13 a stranger found the toddlers walking alone in the street and called them. HPD said they were unharmed, returned to school, and that CPS was contacted.

Harris said that on the day this happened, her daughter told her they were going to a park.

"A lot of things could have took place," Harris said. "So, I was just very emotional because I just feel like seeing the video just really broke me down."

ABC13 asked HISD multiple questions about this situation, including what changes will result from it.

In a statement, the district said that the employee responsible for supervising the students was placed on administrative leave.

"Campus administrators have also conducted a staff reset to reiterate and reinforce established campus procedures to ensure students are properly supervised at all times and that campus monitoring protocols are consistently followed to prevent any future incidents," HISD said.

But those changes are ultimately not enough for Harris. She said she's now unenrolling her daughter.

"Possibly find a safer district," Harris said. "Somewhere where I feel comfortable."

CPS confirmed to ABC13 that they received a report on this situation.

"Once our investigation is complete, DFPS will share our findings with the parents, school officials, and the school district," said DFPS spokesperson Melissa Lanford.

For more news updates, follow Sarah Al-Shaikh on Facebook and Instagram.