The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that Dallas Independent School District (DISD) will pay a $1 million settlement after the federal government found the district failed to report four investigations involving a special‑education teacher accused of abusing minors. The settlement requires DISD to adopt stricter reporting procedures and increase transparency for future allegations.
Allegations and DOJ Action
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybold said the teacher, Michael Roell – who later changed his name to Johnathan Michael – was the subject of four separate investigations while employed by DISD from 2022 to 2024. None of those investigations were reported to the Texas Education Agency as required by state law. One allegation came from a Boy Scout who reported that Roell sexually abused him at a scout camp in Athens, Texas, in September 2023.
Raybold emphasized that DISD allowed Roell to resign without a public record of misconduct, placing him on an internal “Do Not Hire” list instead of notifying other districts. “This is the textbook definition of ‘pass the trash,’” he said, noting that the failure to report is a problem not only in North Texas but across the country.
Settlement Terms
Under the settlement, DISD must:
- Post clear signage in schools outlining the district’s duty to report child‑abuse allegations.
- Review every sexual‑misconduct allegation dating back to 2022 and provide the findings to the Texas Education Agency.
- Immediately involve local, state, and federal law‑enforcement agencies when future allegations arise.
Raybold also sent a letter to all North Texas school districts urging them to report any unreported sexual‑misconduct allegations from the past five years.
Background on the Teacher
Roell was first arrested in 2016 while working for Garland ISD and faced a charge of indecency with a child. He was later acquitted of that charge. After a stint in hospice care, he returned to education as an inclusion teacher for DISD. In 2024, district administrators allegedly gave him the choice to resign or be fired; he chose resignation and was placed on the internal “Do Not Hire” list.
Following his departure, Roell was hired by Forney ISD under his new name. Federal documents later show that former Crosby Elementary School principal Wendy Bailey conspired to conceal Roell’s past by assisting with the name change. Both Roell and Bailey were subsequently indicted on wire‑fraud charges for attempting to hide his history.
Implications for North Texas Schools
The settlement underscores the importance of strict compliance with Texas reporting laws, which require immediate notification of any educator misconduct involving minors. By mandating public signage and a comprehensive review of past allegations, DISD aims to restore community confidence and protect students.
Local parents and advocacy groups have welcomed the increased transparency, while school‑district officials have pledged to cooperate fully with the new requirements. The DOJ settlement serves as a reminder that school districts must prioritize the safety of children above institutional reputation.
Next Steps
DISD will begin posting the required signs within the next month and will launch the retrospective review of allegations. The Texas Education Agency will monitor compliance, and any further failures to report could result in additional federal action.
Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
