Sulphur Springs ISD Staff Members Arrested

Based on a joint investigation by the Sulphur Springs ISD Police and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, they arrested two Sulphur Springs ISD staff members for Unlawful Restraint of a Child Under the Age of 17. They identified them as Marcie Stewart and Kristy Williams, both booked into the Hopkins County Jail for a state jail felony offense. They released them on bail. According to a release by the district, other support and substitute employees either witnessed or were aware of the incident or failed to report it. The investigation is still pending, and the district terminated several at-will employees for failure to report the incident and violations of district policy.

Sulphur Springs ISD Statement to Media 

First and foremost, we want to reiterate that our students’ safety and emotional well-being are our unwavering top priorities. The accusations against one educator and a number of other support personnel are  inexcusable and will not be tolerated by Sulphur Springs ISD.

An incident involving an inappropriate restraint of a child was reported to Sulphur Springs ISD on  Wednesday, and a Sulphur Springs Elementary teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. SSISD Police then contacted the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department to launch an investigation. We have been cooperating with that investigation and were notified this evening of the arrests of several individuals who were employed by  SSISD. Information on the case or those arrests should be directed to the Sheriff’s Department because this is an active investigation.

The parent of the child involved in the incident was contacted the same day the district became aware of  the allegations. There has been no evidence to date that revealed other students in the classroom were  involved. There were, however, other support and substitute employees who either witnessed, were aware of the incident or failed to report it. While the investigation is still pending, several at-will  employees have already been terminated for evidence that they failed to report the incident and for violations of district policy. Additional action by SSISD is expected. We will continue to cooperate with  local law enforcement and make the appropriate notifications to the State Board of Educator Certification.