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- calendar_today October 30, 2026
Allegations Surface at West Mesa High School
Over the past year, West Mesa High School has reported three separate allegations involving inappropriate conduct by staff members. These incidents have raised significant concerns among students, parents, and staff about school safety and the processes in place to address such accusations.
Details of the Accusations
The first reported incident concerned a female teacher accused of making boys crawl between girls’ legs and slap their behinds during class. In a subsequent case, a different teacher was alleged to have sent inappropriate texts to students, taken them to the mall, and purchased expensive workout clothes for them. More recently, a coach was accused of inappropriately touching and texting teenage students. All three cases were reported to the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) district and the APS Police Department.
APS and Police Investigations
APS confirmed that their police department is investigating or has investigated all three allegations. According to a district statement, "APS takes all allegations of employee misconduct involving students seriously and thoroughly investigates each matter. APS Police investigated or is currently investigating all three cases referenced. Two investigations are complete, and one remains active."
The district also stated that once APS Police opens a case, the investigation continues regardless of the staff member’s employment status. In addition, all three cases were reported to the New Mexico Public Education Department, fulfilling state reporting requirements.
Status of the Accused Individuals
KRQE News reports that none of the individuals accused in these cases are currently employed by APS. Although the accused teachers and coach were investigated, no criminal charges were filed, so they have not been publicly identified. According to KRQE News, all three individuals were allowed to resign or retire, and the investigation involving the coach is ongoing.
Concerns About Communication and Transparency
Within West Mesa High School, concerns have been raised about a lack of communication regarding the outcomes of these investigations. Some members of the school community reportedly feel that they have been left "in the dark" about what happens to teachers or coaches after allegations are raised. This uncertainty leaves many questioning how APS Police handle staff investigations and what steps are being taken to ensure school safety.
Role of the Education Department and Teaching Licenses
The New Mexico Public Education Department has confirmed that all three cases were reported to their office by APS. The department will determine the future status of each individual’s teaching license as part of their review. The process of assessing whether the teachers or coach will retain their teaching credentials remains ongoing.
Conclusion
While APS and APS Police continue their investigations, questions remain about how such cases are handled and communicated within the district. The outcomes of these cases and whether teaching licenses will be revoked are still pending the Education Department's decisions.
Source: krqe.com.
