LORENA, Texas — The principal of Lorena Primary School is reportedly "under review" by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Educator Investigations Division amidst a lawsuit filed against her and the Lorena Independent School District.
According to the Texas Education Agency website, April Jewell is listed as "under review" under her Texas Educator Certificate.
The TEA website states the "under review" notation means "an allegation of misconduct is currently being investigated by Texas Education Agency staff. A certificate with this notation remains valid because no formal determination has been made."
A review of the incident began on June 7.
Lawsuit backstory
A lawsuit was filed against both Jewell and Lorena ISD by parents of a pre-K student who was allegedly sexually abused at Lorena Primary School.
Nicolas Scott Crenshaw, a long-term substitute for Lorena ISD, was convicted and sentenced for charges related to sexual abuse of and indecency with two students at Lorena Primary School between 2020 and 2021, according to the lawsuit obtained by 6 News.
The parents of one of the children filed the lawsuit against the school district and Jewell for failure to investigate and report Crenshaw's acts against the 4 and 5-year-old, even though multiple Lorena Primary School staff reported their concerns, according to the complaint.
Recent developments
The case was discussed at a Texas State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 26, after being brought to the attention of District 14 Representative Evelyn Brooks. District 14 includes Lorena ISD. Brooks says she is now getting involved in the case.
According to the Lorena ISD website, Jewell is still the principal of Lorena Primary School. She has reportedly filed an appeal in a Waco federal court of a judge's decision to dismiss the lawsuit.
On Friday, the TEA responded to an inquiry from 6 News about the matter, saying that they cannot make any comments because the case is under investigation.
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