Introduction to the Celina ISD Scandal

A second lawsuit has been brought against Celina ISD, accusing school officials of being more concerned about its storied football program than the welfare of students. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges the district “ignored, minimized, or rationalized obvious signs of wrongdoing and child abuse” in the case of a middle school coach who authorities say secretly took images of boys undressing and showering in a locker room.

An earlier lawsuit, filed Oct. 21, made similar allegations, naming the former coach, William Elliott — known more widely by his middle name, Caleb — and the school district as defendants.

The Allegations Against Celina ISD

The latest lawsuit names Celina ISD Superintendent Thomas Maglisceau and Moore Middle School principal Allison Ginn as defendants — as well as the coach’s father, William “Bill” Elliott, the revered head coach of Celina High School, whose football team brought home a state championship last year.

None of the defendants could be immediately reached for comment.

Both lawsuits allege that Caleb Elliott had a sexual relationship with a student when he was a teacher at the high school and an assistant coach for his father in the 2022-23 school year.

“This action arises from a stark and troubling reality,” Monday’s lawsuit states. “In our community, the prestige and power of a successful football program — and the singular influence of its head coach — became an end unto itself, eclipsing the most basic duties of care owed to children.”

The District’s Response to the Allegations

The lawsuit alleges that school officials did not report the younger Elliott to law enforcement when they learned about the relationship. The plaintiffs say he should have been fired, but instead was transferred to Moore Middle School.

“When faced with an adult who had sexually exploited a child, Celina ISD’s solution was to give him access to younger children,” the lawsuit states. It notes at least 30 families have been notified that images of their children were found on Caleb Elliott’s phone.

At Moore Middle School, Elliott was assigned to help coach the eighth-grade football program and worked as a sixth-grade social studies teacher, the lawsuit states. A year into the job, he was found to have placed hidden cameras in the locker room where the 13- and 14-year-old boys changed, according to the lawsuit. Instead of reporting his behavior, Celina ISD sent apology letters to parents and banned Elliott from entering the locker room.

Consequences for the Defendants

In a statement, Maglisceau, the district superintendent, said the district received confirmation from the Texas Education Agency that Caleb Elliott surrendered his teaching license when he resigned earlier this month.

“As the District wished to terminate his employment as quickly as possible, it was essential for Celina ISD to ensure that Mr. Elliott would never teach in a public school ever again,” he said in the statement.

On Oct. 24, Celina ISD placed Ginn and the older Elliott on administrative leave with pay.

Community Reaction

In an online petition, parents and community members have requested the district give the older Elliott a “time-specific” exception to his leave so he can participate in the high school’s senior night ceremonies before Friday’s football game. A counter-petition calling for Elliott to be barred from senior night has also circulated.

Celina ISD said Wednesday the older Elliott is barred from attending Friday. The district said employees on leave are prohibited from entering district facilities or attending district functions.

Brad Beckworth, an attorney at Nix Patterson, the law firm representing the victims, criticized the petition asking that Elliott be allowed to attend senior night ceremonies.

“The idea that football is more important than the safety and welfare of our kids is a real problem,” Beckworth said.

Conclusion

The Celina ISD scandal has raised serious concerns about the district’s priorities and its handling of allegations of child abuse and misconduct. The lawsuits and community reaction highlight the need for greater accountability and transparency in the district’s response to such allegations.

FAQs

Q: What are the allegations against Celina ISD?

A: The allegations include ignoring, minimizing, or rationalizing obvious signs of wrongdoing and child abuse, and prioritizing the football program over the welfare of students.

Q: Who are the defendants in the lawsuits?

A: The defendants include Caleb Elliott, William “Bill” Elliott, Thomas Maglisceau, and Allison Ginn.

Q: What is the status of the defendants?

A: Caleb Elliott has surrendered his teaching license and resigned, while Ginn and the older Elliott are on administrative leave with pay.

Q: What is the community’s reaction to the scandal?

A: The community is divided, with some calling for the older Elliott to be allowed to attend senior night ceremonies and others calling for him to be barred from the event.