TEA’s Educator Investigations Division reviewing embattled principal April Jewell’s Texas educator certificate
Parents of girl sexually abused by substitute teacher filed suit against district, school principal April Jewell
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - UPDATE: The Texas Educator Certificate issued to Lorena Primary School Principal April Jewell is “under review” by the Texas Education Agency’s Educator Investigations Division, the state agency confirmed to KWTX.
The parents of a former Lorena Independent School District pre-K student who was sexually abused by her teacher filed a lawsuit against the district and Jewell.
“At this time, there is no investigation into the district. TEA can confirm that the educator in question (Jewell) is under investigation by the agency’s Educator Investigations Division. An investigatory flag has been placed on their certificate, which can be viewed via the online certificate lookup. Because the matter remains ongoing, TEA cannot comment further,” the state agency wrote in a statement sent to KWTX.
The girl’s parents, identified as Mary and John Doe, filed suit against Lorena ISD and Jewell in August after their daughter, called Jane Doe in the lawsuit to protect her identity, was sexually abused by former substitute teacher Nicolas Scott Crenshaw in his classroom during the 2020-2021 school year.
Crenshaw, a long-term substitute teacher, pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2023 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
The lawsuit alleges that Jewell did more than “look the other way.” She and other administrators made it easier for Crenshaw to get away with the abuses, the parents claim.
The Lorena Independent School District emailed the following statement to KWTX News 10:
“With respect to your concerns regarding Principal April Jewell, Lorena Independent School District denies all claims asserted against it in Plaintiff’s civil lawsuit. Nicolas Crenshaw committed ‘unspeakable evil’ acts against Jane Doe, and the state of Texas punished him following his plea of guilty in his 2021 criminal case.
“Lorena ISD did not ‘look the other way’ or take any actions that made it easier for Crenshaw to commit his crimes against Jane Doe.
“The District responded appropriately to reports regarding Crenshaw when he was employed by the District, reports that differ greatly from the allegations contained in Plaintiff’s civil Complaint that seeks monetary damages against the District.
“The District has not been presented any factual evidence that is different than what was reviewed in connection with the 2021 criminal matter against Nicholas Crenshaw. Should that change at any time, appropriate action will be taken. We are grateful for our dedicated and supportive educators, parents and community members.
“We are confident in the judicial system, and Lorena ISD’s position is to allow the legal process to run its course. This holds true for TEA’s investigation regarding Principal Jewell’s certificate.”
Original article written by Tommy Witherspoon
Lorena ISD, school principal April Jewell issue first public statements in Jane Doe lawsuit
As the lawsuit filed by the parents of a former Lorena pre-K student who was sexually abused by her teacher picks up steam in Waco’s federal court, Lorena school officials and the principal named in the suit have filed their first public responses to the allegations.
In what is known as a Rule 26 report - a road map used by the courts to govern the timing and direction of the suit - Lorena ISD officials denied that they “looked the other way” or took actions that made it easier for former substitute teacher Nicolas Scott Crenshaw to abuse a 5-year-old girl in his classroom during the 2020-2021 school year.
The girl’s parents, identified as Mary and John Doe, filed suit against Lorena ISD and Lorena Primary School Principal April Jewell in August after their daughter, called Jane Doe in the lawsuit to protect her identity as a minor and sexual abuse survivor, was abused by Crenshaw.
Crenshaw, a long-term substitute teacher, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a young child, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a young child and one count of indecency with a child by contact in the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, who was 5, and her 4-year-old female classmate.
Crenshaw, 29, was sentenced to 40 years in prison and is not eligible for parole. He is being held in a Huntsville prison unit and has a projected release date of June 2061, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
In responses to U.S. Magistrate Jeffrey C. Manske’s queries in the Rule 26 report, Lorena ISD officials issued a blanket denial of the allegations, while Jewell continues to assert she is entitled to qualified immunity from the allegations and is appealing U.S. District Judge Alan Albright’s ruling that she is not.
“Defendant Lorena Independent School District denies all claims asserted in Plaintiff’s Complaint,” the district’s response said. “Nicolas Crenshaw committed ‘unspeakable evil’ acts against Jane Doe and the state of Texas punished him following his plea of guilty. Crenshaw’s acts, however, are not attributable to the District and its employees. Lorena ISD did not ‘look the other way’ or take any actions that made it easier for Crenshaw to commit his crimes against Jane Doe.
“The District has policies and procedures in place that prohibit Crenshaw’s conduct, Lorena ISD trains its employees on preventing and recognizing sexual abuse, and the District responded appropriately to reports regarding Crenshaw—reports that differ greatly from the allegations contained in Plaintiff’s Complaint,” the response states.
Jewell claims her pending appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals effectively puts a stay on further proceedings, including discovery, until her appeal is resolved.
Manske notes in his report and scheduling order that the plaintiffs disagree with that position. Manske set discovery in the case to begin July 1 and set a trial date for Oct. 6, 2025.
Jewell is the only Lorena ISD employee named as a defendant in the lawsuit. However, the suit identifies other employees who the suit alleges “knew from their own observations, multiple employees’ credible complaints about Crenshaw’s inappropriate interactions with Jane Doe, photographic evidence that Crenshaw routinely laid down under a blanket with Jane during nap time, had her straddle him while he was lying down, placed her on his lap, dressed her in his clothing, isolated her in the classroom and behind locked doors, and was otherwise obsessed with the young child. At the same time, school officials knew that Jane complained of vaginal and stomach pain.”
According to the lawsuit, the girl suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome, physical pain, anxiety, anger, nightmares, fear and distrust of others. She is afraid of going to school and often tries to avoid going, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit also alleges that Jewell did more than “look the other way.” She and other administrators made it easier for Crenshaw to get away with the abuses and harder for conscientious employees to intervene by eliminating supervision over Crenshaw, permitting him to have unmonitored access to the girl behind locked doors and retaliating against employees who photographed and reported his “highly inappropriate” conduct with the girl, the lawsuit alleges.
Also, school officials failed to properly investigate Crenshaw and failed to report his conduct to the girl’s parents, Child Protective Services or law enforcement, the suit claims. After attorneys for the school district responded to the Rule 26 report, which was made public Monday, the Lorena ISD Board of Trustees sent a statement to families in the district.
“Trust is imperative between our board and the community we serve. The word ‘trustee’ itself is based on this foundation. Due to the Texas regulatory environment that governs school districts, the board is limited in what can be openly discussed outside of monthly public board meetings. With the additional complexities surrounding an open civil lawsuit, it becomes challenging, if not impossible, for the board to respond to rumors, questions from the community, and misinformation included in social media discussions regarding this matter.
Please know that we value the trust you have placed in each of us as your Board of Trustees. We also value the families of Lorena, the LISD staff, and most importantly the students of the district. We want to be able to dialogue with you, but there are legal processes in place that we as a board are mandated to follow, and unfortunately that limits the information we are allowed to share. We know you may be frustrated by these limitations, and we as a board share those frustrations. We ask that all LISD families join the board in remaining patient with the discovery and judicial process and not rush to judgement prior to all facts being presented,” according to the statement.
The Does allege in the lawsuit that Lorena ISD violated Title IX requirements by showing “deliberate indifference” to the abuse reports and that the abuse barred the girl’s access to educational opportunities. Count 2 alleges Lorena ISD failed to train administrators and other employees about protecting children from harassment, while Count 3 alleges Jewell failed to supervise in her official capacity.
Count 4 alleges Lorena ISD lacked policies to adequately protect children, and Count 5 alleges Jewell exhibited “arbitrary and conscience-shocking executive action.”
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