Former Texas teacher arrested for improper relationship with a student | WCIV

Excerpt

A former Texas teacher is accused of having an improper relationship with a student. Kaylyn Paige Miller, 30, surrendered Thursday, according to authorities.

STINNETT, Texas (KVII) — A former Texas teacher is accused of having an improper relationship with a student.

Kaylyn Paige Miller, 30, surrendered Thursday, according to authorities. She was booked into the Hutchison County Jail at 9:40 a.m. According to jail records, Miller was charged with "improper relationship between educator and student."

She was released at 12:08 p.m. on a $50,000 bond. Miller was a math teacher at West Texas Middle School in Stinnett, located in the state's panhandle.

Kaylyn Miller (Photo: Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD)

According to Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips Consolidated Independent School District (CISD), she resigned Jan. 6.

Romantic relationships between district employees and students are never tolerated. The district has strict policies that prohibit romantic relationships between employees and students," said said Jamie Copley, superintendent of Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD.

According to the 84th District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Mark Snider recused himself because "his daughter was friends with Miller through junior high and high school." Erin Lands, 69th District Attorney, is now handling the case.

KVII has tried to obtain a copy of the criminal complaint. Lands has not returned their calls or email. If convicted, Miller faces two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Miller is also being investigated by the Texas Education Association. She could lose her teaching certificate as a result.

Kaylyn Miller's teaching certificate. (Photo: Texas Educator Agency)

Full statement from Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD

Ms. Miller resigned from the District, effective January 6, 2022. State and federal law prohibit the District from disclosing confidential student or personnel information. Therefore, the District will not comment further on Ms. Miller’s resignation.

Please know that student safety and proper professional relationships between staff and students are top priorities to PSP CISD. Romantic relationships between District employees and students are never tolerated. The District has strict policies that prohibit romantic relationships between employees and students. Policy and state law require any educator with reasonable cause to believe a student has been abused to report the suspected abuse within 48 hours to law enforcement and/or DFPS. The District strictly enforces its student anti-harassment policies, works cooperatively with all local and state authorities and will investigate allegations or reported misconducted. Employees receive regular training regarding proper professional relationships, communications, and boundaries with students. The administration encourages anyone with concerns of a suspected improper relationship between a staff member and a student to immediately contact the school administration and the proper authorities.

(Photo: Texas Educator Agency)

As defined in the Texas Penal Code under Section 21.12. IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR AND STUDENT.

(a) An employee of a public or private primary or secondary school commits an offense if the employee:

(1) engages in sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with a person who is enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school at which the employee works;

(2) holds a position described by Section 21.003(a) or (b), Education Code, regardless of whether the employee holds the appropriate certificate, permit, license, or credential for the position, and engages in sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with a person the employee knows is:

(A) enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school, other than a school described by Subdivision (1); or

(B) a student participant in an educational activity that is sponsored by a school district or a public or private primary or secondary school, if students enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school are the primary participants in the activity; or

(3) engages in conduct described by Section 33.021, with a person described by Subdivision (1), or a person the employee knows is a person described by Subdivision (2)(A) or (B), regardless of the age of that person.

(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree.

(b-1) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:

(1) the actor was the spouse of the enrolled person at the time of the offense; or

(2) the actor was not more than three years older than the enrolled person and, at the time of the offense, the actor and the enrolled person were in a relationship that began before the actor's employment at a public or private primary or secondary school.

(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or both sections.

(d) The name of a person who is enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school and involved in an improper relationship with an educator as provided by Subsection (a) may not be released to the public and is not public information under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(d-1) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a public or private primary or secondary school, or a person or entity that operates a public or private primary or secondary school, may not release externally to the general public the name of an employee of the school who is accused of committing an offense under this section until the employee is indicted for the offense. The school, or the person or entity that operates the school, may release the name of the accused employee regardless of whether the employee has been indicted for the offense as necessary for the school to:

(1) report the accusation:

(A) to the Texas Education Agency, another state agency, or local law enforcement or as otherwise required by law; or

(B) to the school's members or community in accordance with the school's policies or procedures or with the religious law observed by the school; or

(2) conduct an investigation of the accusation.

(e) In this section, "sexual contact" means the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:

(1) any touching by an employee of a public or private primary or secondary school of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of:

(A) an enrolled person described by Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2)(A); or

(B) a student participant described by Subsection (a)(2)(B); or

(2) any touching of any part of the body of the enrolled person or student participant with the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of the employee.