8 Students Speak Out Against Former HISD Teacher Accused Of Sexual Abuse, Documents Say

HOUSTON. According to court documents, eight students spoke out against a former HISD teacher accused of child sexual abuse.

Records show Manuel Edgardo Ponce, 45, faces five charges: three counts of continued child sexual abuse, one count of indecent behavior with a child, and one count of indecent exposure.

Ponce, a former Sutton elementary school teacher, appeared before a judge on Monday.

Court records state that in February 2020, he unbuttoned one of his former 2nd grade student’s trousers and looked down to see her private parts.

According to court records, the girl came forward after she was approached by a teacher about being in Ponce’s class when she was younger. The girl, now in 5th grade, told the teacher that he would tell the other students to take a break in the toilet and asked her to stay so he could look at her private parts, the documents say.

The girl said that this would happen almost every day at school.

READ: Former HISD elementary school teacher charged with sexual abuse of children

In court on Monday, the public prosecutor said other students who were in Ponce’s class in the 2021-2022 school year had a very similar story.

According to the records, some of the victims, who were only 8 years old, stated that Ponce inappropriately touched them in private parts.

Ponce’s lawyer said she believes her client is innocent and plans to defend his innocence.

“Obviously there are a lot of problems with the DA’s case, at least for the time being,” prosecutor Mary Conn said.

Ponce was released from jail on $200,000 bail and will not stand trial until trial unless he violates his bail agreements.

According to Houston ISD, he retired in July 2022.

Child Protective Services also said it was investigating the situation.

Dr. Whitney Crowson, clinical psychologist at the Children’s Assessment Center, says that empowering children to deal with abuse begins when they are still babies.

“If you just change a diaper and talk a little about what you did, you bring light and openness to these areas of the body that often cause embarrassment, shame and secretiveness,” Crowson said. “All the things we don’t want to see when discussing these topics.”

Crowson said parents should use proper names for body parts when talking to their children.

“If we don’t use proper names, then we’re sending a message that it’s not safe to talk about them,” she said.

Crowson also said that parents should know for their children that no one should touch them there.

“You can say no to adults if what they are doing harms you,” she said. Or if it’s inappropriate. Or if it’s something you don’t like. It’s okay to tell them no.

And no matter what, Crowson says, parents should let their kids know they can talk to them about anything without repercussions.

These can be difficult conversations, but there are books for both children and adults to help make them easier.

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