IL Texas superintendent responds to criticism over student safety and alleged teacher misconduct

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -IL Texas officials are addressing mounting criticism over the school’s handling of student safety and alleged staff misconduct after a former teacher was accused of sexually assaulting a student. The concerns center around Jose Adrian Hernandez Grimaldo, a former Spanish teacher who allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in a school bathroom and left bruises on a student with special needs in 2022.

Several parents reached out to KBTX expressing their concerns after learning Grimaldo was fired, rehired during an appeals process, and transferred to another campus while police investigations were still ongoing.

Erin and Michael Williams sat down with KBTX earlier this month to share their distress when their son was allegedly harmed by the same man. They said their son came home with bruises on his arm less than a month after the Spanish teacher was hired and felt the district continued to ignore parents’ concerns.

“You failed our children, and you continued to fail our children after I told you that they were not safe,” said Erin. “We know that multiple people have told you these things, and you did nothing, nothing,” Michael added.

The school met with parents Tuesday in two separate meetings to discuss safety and security protocols on campus. KBTX requested to attend the meeting but was denied. However, IL Texas Superintendent Eddie Conger did agree to meet with us. Conger declined to comment on specific allegations due to ongoing investigations but emphasized the school’s commitment to safety.

“I’m not going to be able to address any issues related to any ongoing investigations that the police may have, but I will be addressing, in general terms, just the process of any employee who may be terminated, working through that process, and then the employee’s rights,” said Conger. “What I plan to do is what we have always done, and that is to make sure that any and every allegation that we investigate, that all of our staff, all of our over 2,000 employees, that all of us are complying with the law.”

Conger, who has a background as a Marine infantry officer and has served for 20 years, outlined his priorities, including the safety of students and staff, good order and discipline, learning, and teaching. He noted that improving communication with parents would be a key focus moving forward.

“We only have four priorities immediately following that. And that is the safety of kids and staff, good order and discipline, learning, meaning the kids’ results, that it’s learning, and then teaching. But as part of our visit today, we’re going to be talking with parents on safety and security, the laws, the policies, and by policy I’m talking about the school board approves the policies, but also our procedures and our protocols,” said Conger.

When asked about his thoughts regarding concerns raised by parents, Conger stated that it was very important that any parent anywhere continue to raise those concerns up the chain of command.

“One of the things that IL Texas does not have the authority in public education and charter schools or public schools is the option to ignore. We don’t have an option not to address those concerns, but all the concerns need to be brought to the campus level, above the campus level, and then of course, all the way up to me as the superintendent,” said Conger.

Conger was also asked about balancing safety and security with teachers’ rights and added that as superintendent he will use every inch of his authority to ensure students and staff remain safe on campus.

“It’s a hard one for me to answer because you first have to remain to make sure that kids and staff are safe, period. It’s a zero-tolerance perfection expectation because I don’t care how many rules you have in place, if my granddaughter gets hurt, the system failed. If my children get hurt, the system failed. But in that environment, all of us, pastors, coaches, employees, employers out in town, every educator, we have to make decisions that are in the best interest of kids, and we have to err on the side of what’s in the best interest of kids versus the adults,” said Conger.

As far as any failures in the IL Texas system, Conger reflected on his time as a parent and grandparent.

“Anytime my granddaughter’s hurt, your system failed. My granddaughter’s hurt, I’m going to be upset. So that is my answer there. There is no satisfactory answer for any child to be hurt regardless of where you are.”

Conger concluded the interview by highlighting the importance of vigilance and the role of educators as the balance teaching and keeping students safe.

“If you see something, say something. It’s incumbent on all of us every day to make sure that we’re listening, and we’re watching, and we’re reporting. If you see something, say something. If you hear something, say something. And if the people you talk to don’t give you a satisfactory answer, push the issue all the way up the chain of command in any organization that you’re in,” said Conger.

“To every educator out there, thank you for the hard work that you do. I don’t think any of us fully recognize the work of teachers, the stress that they’re under, the low pay, the administrative requirements, and then just they’re pouring into kids to try to help the kids learn and to be a whole person. So please make sure that all of us are recognizing that work,” Conger added.

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