SPLENDORA, Texas – A Splendora High School teacher accused of staging a hoax attack that triggered a campus lockdown had a documented history of disciplinary issues and complaints at a previous district, according to records obtained by KPRC 2.
Nicole Truelove, 53, was arrested earlier this month and charged with filing a false report and tampering with evidence after investigators said she cut herself, blamed a student and activated a panic alarm, prompting a large law enforcement response.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said the April incident at Splendora High School began when Truelove activated a wearable alarm around 8:45 a.m., triggering a lockdown and drawing more than 80 law enforcement officers to the campus.
Investigators later determined no student assault had occurred and that there was no ongoing threat to the school.
Records obtained via a open records request by KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding from her previous employer, Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, show multiple incidents involving student complaints, administrative leave and formal reprimands before her resignation in May 2025.
In March 2022, district leaders placed Truelove on a professional growth plan citing concerns about classroom management and professionalism. The document states she “grabbed a student by his arm in order to keep him from walking away” from her.
In March 2025, a student reported that Truelove grabbed her face to force eye contact.
“At some point, I realized she was standing behind me. Without warning, she grabbed my face, squeezing it together to force me to look up at her,” the student wrote. “I resisted and pulled her hands off, but, she put them back on smushing my face again.”
In a written response included in the records, Truelove said she placed her hands on the student’s cheeks to get her attention and apologized for her actions.
“I have no idea that I embarrassed her. I am sorry for my actions,” Truelove wrote.
Additional student statements describe physical contact, including being slapped on the head or touched to regain focus.
“She has slapped me upside the head like once, to “motivate me.” Like from the back. She did caress (student name redacted) on the head, it was bad,” wrote a student.
Other students told administrators the behavior appeared joking or not intended to cause harm.
“Yes, I have seen Mrs. Truelove squeeze, hit or slap someone. However, I feel it is a joking matter and not purposely trying to hurt someone. I think the issue is when someone says, “Okay, don’t hit me” she doesn’t understand no,” another student wrote.
Following the March 2025 incident, the district placed Truelove on administrative leave with pay.
Separate records show Truelove was placed on paid administrative leave in 2023 after an incident involving racist language in the classroom.
A letter from a principal states a recording captured her denying, then admitting to using a racial slur while speaking with students.
In October 2025, the district issued a formal reprimand after multiple students reported Truelove told them to intentionally perform poorly on a beginning-of-year assessment.
The reprimand states the district determined the testing data had been manipulated and ruled her ineligible for incentive compensation for that school year. Bonuses could reach well over $10,000 for top preforming teachers.
Additional documents cite concerns about attendance and prior reassignment within the district.
The records also show Truelove disputed some allegations, writing in one response that claims against her were “false hearsay” that could not be substantiated.
In April 2025, the superintendent notified her he would recommend her contract not be renewed “in the best interest of the district.”
She submitted a handwritten resignation the same day, effective at the end of the school year.
Splendora ISD said it checks the state’s “do not hire” registry as part of its hiring process and that Truelove was not listed. A district spokesperson said officials were not aware of the full scope of her prior disciplinary records.
Splendora ISD follows established hiring protocols in accordance with state law and district procedures. As part of our standard process, we verify an applicant’s certification through the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to ensure there are no active sanctions or reprimands, conduct reference checks—including recent supervisors—and screen candidates through the Texas Do Not Hire Registry.
We were not aware of any disciplinary records.
William Rhodes, Splendora ISD Executive Director of Human Resources
Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD officials said full personnel files for Truelove are now being submitted to the state.
“We are in the process of providing the documents to the Texas Education Agency regarding this educator, as is the longstanding custom and practice of the Coldspring-Oakhurst ISD.”
Attorney Representing Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD
The Texas Education Agency has opened an investigation. The criminal case against Truelove remains ongoing.
Truelove has bonded out of jail and resigned from her position with Splendora ISD.