School Abuse Lawsuit Faces Big Setback, Parents Still Stand Firm

A federal judge this week dismissed most civil claims against the Millsap Independent School District that stemmed from a viral video showing teachers allegedly abusing special‑needs students. The decision has left parents upset, but they say the fight is far from over.

Background

• March 2025 – A former assistant teacher recorded footage at Millsap Elementary, allegedly showing staff hitting, yelling at, and humiliating children with disabilities.
• Parents reported that one son was struck repeatedly while another daughter was threatened and mistreated.

The video sparked a criminal investigation by state education officials and local law enforcement. In the same month, former superintendent Edie Martin and two teachers were arrested on charges of abuse and failure to report. A grand jury later indicted four educators for failing to report child abuse.

Federal Lawsuit

• June 2025 – Three mothers filed a federal suit against the district, Martin, principal Roxie Carter, and teachers Paxton Bean and Jennifer Dale.
• Allegations: abuse, lack of training, violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act.
• Parents claimed incidents were part of a pattern that should have been stopped by district leadership.

Ongoing Criminal Proceedings

• Plea hearing for Edie Martin and Jennifer Dale set for Tuesday in county court.