Magnolia ISD declines to punish administrators over 2nd grade teacher abuse allegations
MAGNOLIA, Texas (KTRK) -- The parents of a Magnolia ISD student who says she was inappropriately touched by her second-grade teacher have once again failed in their quest to see school administrators punished.
Tayla Craig and her husband's grievance appeal was denied for a third time at a school board meeting Monday night.
The district has long maintained it had no reports that former Magnolia Parkway Elementary teacher Jason Maldonado was engaging in sexual misconduct prior to 2025, when he was arrested and charged.
But during public comments, multiple parents came forward to say they had reported Maldonado to school leaders as far back as 2022.
READ MORE: 'They failed': Magnolia ISD parents want district held responsible for teacher charged
The district acknowledges a 2024 report from Craig, who said her daughter had told her Maldonado really liked getting hugs from students but only seemed to want to hug female students.
She also said he directed her to lie on a mat under his desk when she complained of having a headache.
The district, however, says that because hugging isn't inherently sexual, administrators had no reason to believe Maldonado was inappropriately touching students.
RELATED: Former Magnolia ISD teacher faces new charges for inappropriate sexual contact with students
Craig said he told the district that she feared Maldonado might be touching students, but they failed to note it in their report.
Investigators say multiple students have accused Maldonado of touching them underneath their clothes and directing them to sit on his lap.
Craig had been seeking to have the Magnolia Parkway principal fired and have other administrators placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
Following the board's vote, she said she would pursue legal action.
