KLEIN – Klein ISD is launching changes for training and safety after two high-profile cases recently, including a bruising revelation in the case of a cosmetology teacher at Klein Cain High School accused of sex trafficking.
KPRC 2′s Terrance Kelly broke the story last month that an employee at the school had informed administrators that Kedria Grigsby “aided in the sale, distribution of underage minor females” a full year before anything was done. That worker told school leaders they suspected the teacher was involved in sex trafficking with her son.
Klein ISD told KPRC 2 Investigates reporter Robert Arnold that they made a call to the sheriff’s office and were told Grigsby was not a suspect in the investigation. The sheriff’s office told Arnold they never said that and wanted to know from the school who exactly told them that. Klein ISD could not provide a record of who from the district communicated with Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Grigsby, 42, was arrested and charged with six counts of various human trafficking crimes, and her case is now going through the court system.
RELATED: Klein ISD cosmetology teacher accused of sex trafficking students appears in court
Klein’s superintendent sent a message to parents in April saying “we are disgusted” at what had happened, especially since she too has children in the school district.
“The reprehensible behavior of this individual is not representative of the over 7,500 remarkable employees in our Klein Family who work tirelessly every day to educate our children,” Dr. Jenny McGown said.
Last month the district was hit with another high-profile case of a 7-year-old student with autism wandering off campus. The mother told KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun it took the school over an hour to tell her that her son was missing.
Thursday, McGown sent a lengthy missive to parents about changes coming.
“Like many of you, I am heartsick, appalled, and angry with what we’ve endured recently as a Klein Family—individuals once entrusted as employees in our school district jeopardized the safety and well-being of our students,” McGown said and added she is determined to take a comprehensive look at the district’s past practices, policy and culture.
Changes include (full statement below):
- Increasing Employee Training
- Improving Communication
- Enhancing Parent Workshops
- Advocating for Policy Change
Safety and student care measures that will continue:
- Counseling and Support Services
- Investigative and Reporting Procedures
- Bark for Schools
- Keep Klein Safe
KPRC 2′s Rilwan Bologan is out in the Klein district today finding out what parents think about the changes and the impact, moving forward into the next school year. You can watch his story tonight at 6 on KPRC 2 news and of course, we will update you right here on Click2Houston.
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Ex-Klein ISD teacher accused of sexual misconduct with students
Read the full statement from Klein ISD Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown:
Dear Klein Community,
Klein is my home. I am proud to be the mom of two Klein ISD students and grateful to serve as your superintendent.
Like many of you, I am heartsick, appalled, and angry with what we’ve endured recently as a Klein Family—individuals once entrusted as employees in our school district jeopardized the safety and well-being of our students.
As I’ve said before, and it is worth repeating, this conduct is deplorable and completely unacceptable. I am disgusted by their actions that compromised our trust.
I am also determined.
Like our Klein Police Chief and every member of our leadership team, I am determined to take a comprehensive look at our past practices, policies, and culture. We value our community’s outpouring of support and the feedback of our critics, and we will show you—not just tell you—that we will do everything in our power to protect our kids.
To that end, here are some of the initial steps we’re taking:
- Increasing Employee Training: As part of our mandatory annual back-to-school training for staff, all employees will receive additional training designed by outside subject experts to help us better understand and recognize behaviors that do not align with what we expect of our staff. We will also provide year-round, quarterly training to ensure the safety of our students and a safe learning environment for all.
- Improving Communication: Chief of Police Marlon Runnels is conducting a complete review of all internal and inter-agency communications. The Klein ISD Police Department will do everything in its power to enhance its partnership with all law enforcement agencies in the shared interest of student safety.
- Enhancing Parent Workshops: We are launching Klein YOUniversity, featuring a variety of virtual on-demand courses and traditional in-person workshops. These classes will cover topics such as digital safety, mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, vaping, human trafficking, educational support strategies, and other topics to help further equip all of us as parents as we raise our children in today’s challenging world.
- Advocating for Policy Change: As we review changes we need to make to improve, we will advocate with our elected officials for state and federal policy that requires school districts to be informed by any law enforcement agency when any employee is under investigation, especially employees working directly with children. We can’t act if we don’t know that outside law enforcement agencies are investigating someone.
Amid this stringent review, we also must recognize what is working and enhance our efforts to use these effective practices and tools.
Over the years, we’ve invested significant resources to strengthen our district’s existing safety and security services. These investments have fortified our schools with improved infrastructure, technology, and critical personnel.
And we will continue to invest in safety—whatever is necessary—to ensure the well-being of our students, educators, and schools.
Here are some of our proven safety and student care measures that will continue:
- Counseling and Support Services: Over 40 years ago, we set the standard in student safety and wellness by establishing the first school-based police department and providing dedicated school nurses for every campus. Today, all of our schools also have full-time, highly trained, and certified counselors on staff, and our high schools have additional full-time dedicated mental health counselors available to all students free of charge with parental consent.
- Investigative and Reporting Procedures: Our Human Resource Services team promptly and thoroughly investigates and acts on allegations, consults with legal counsel, notifies relevant sanctioning bodies of employee misconduct, and ensures staff compliance with the Educator Code of Ethics and legal requirements.
- Bark for Schools: We use Bark for Schools on school-issued devices to monitor everything students are searching for and writing to alert administrators to anything concerning—including school threats, self-harm, bullying, talk of drugs or alcohol, and more—allowing us to intervene and investigate potential concerns.
- Keep Klein Safe: Our safety-focused website (https://kleinisd.net/keepkleinsafe) allows for anonymous reporting of concerns. Our Klein Police Department monitors this critical tool 24-7, 365 days a year, and we encourage its use. Even when tips come in the middle of the night or over a weekend, we have a responsive, well-trained team on every campus that even makes home visits at all hours of the day and night to ensure every reported concern is addressed quickly.
As we exhaust all efforts to protect and care for our students, we welcome your questions and ideas for improvement. Our Klein schools are places where people are proud to send their children because of the support and partnership of our entire community. Please share your feedback with us at https://kleinisd.net/safetyfeedback.
Klein is our home—a place bound by our commitment to the next generation. A place full of thousands of devoted teachers and employees, parents who love their children, community members who invest in our schools, and students who achieve remarkable success and continue to make us proud to live in Klein ISD. Together, we will overcome these challenges, make improvements, and focus on doing what is best for our kids.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jenny McGown
Superintendent