Ector Middle School Principal Kendra Herrera has resigned and was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor Class A theft following an investigation by the Ector County Independent School District Police Department, Superintendent Tom Crowe said.
Crowe said Herrera was arrested Thursday. Herrera was officially put on paid administrative leave Jan. 16 because of the allegation against her, but Crowe said her resignation letter cited personal reasons.
Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Operations Roy Garcia is now interim principal, he added.
In October, Crowe said questions were brought to the district from the girls’ basketball booster club at Odessa High School. He said ECISD police investigated and turned the results over to the County Attorney’s Office.
County Attorney Dusty Gallivan said Class A theft covers anything from $750 to $2,500. Gallivan said the charge carries up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.
Gallivan said Herrera will have an arraignment, and after that, will get set for trial in County Court-at-Law No. 2.
A spokesperson at the Ector County Detention Center said bond was set at $1,000 and she was released Thursday morning.
“I feel for her and her family, but what had to happen had to happen,” Crowe said.
Ector Middle School is one of three ECISD campuses in their fifth year of improvement required status under status under state accountability standards. If the campus doesn’t come off IR, the campuses will face closure or the Texas Education Commissioner will appoint a board of managers over the whole district.
