Austin, Texas—Austin ISD police notified campus and district officials that Alfredo Andrade-Gaytan, a Walnut Creek Elementary School teacher who was teaching at the summer school program at Reilly, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, Friday, June 13, following an investigation by ºÚÁϹÙÍø police. The suspect confessed during the ºÚÁϹÙÍø investigation. Immediately thereafter, the district served the teacher notice of termination. The teacher has been terminated and referred to the State Board for Educator Certification for action to rescind his teaching certification.
Once information concerning the teacher was first reported, Wednesday, June 11, ºÚÁϹÙÍø police acted immediately to conduct their investigation and work with campus and district officials to ensure the safety of our students. ºÚÁϹÙÍø removed the suspect from the campus the following morning and district police arrested him within 48 hours of the initial report.
ºÚÁϹÙÍø asked families to contact the district’s police department with questions, concerns or information relevant to the on-going investigation. ºÚÁϹÙÍø police notified district officials that four additional allegations have been reported, and Andrade-Gaytan was arrested on two charges of indecency with a child Saturday, June 21. Police charged Andrade-Gaytan with indecency with a child by exposure Thursday, June 26. The police continue to investigate the one other allegation.
At ºÚÁϹÙÍø, the safety and well-being of our students remains our first priority. ºÚÁϹÙÍø’s educators have worked together to ensure classes have continued as scheduled for the teacher’s summer school students and that the learning environment for all students remains uninterrupted.
After learning about the teacher’s confession and subsequent arrest, Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said:
This incident is shocking and upsetting. Every day, the Austin community and thousands of families entrust us with the care and education of their children. And, every day, 12,059 ºÚÁϹÙÍø team members come to our schools and campuses to do the right thing for Austin’s children.
ºÚÁϹÙÍø maintains strong systems to conduct thorough background checks and teacher evaluations. And—as in this case—we will investigate all allegations and take appropriate action to ensure our classrooms and school communities are safe. We also ask families to speak with children about what to do if they feel uncomfortable about any behavior—and to encourage and empower them to report such behavior to responsible adults.
ºÚÁϹÙÍø is providing an as a follow-up to the letter and communications the school distributed to parents earlier this month.
Thank you for your continued support of ºÚÁϹÙÍø and our school communities.