Substitute Teacher Arrested for Bringing Gun into Classroom in NEISD

A middle school substitute teacher was arrested on Friday for allegedly bringing a gun into a classroom, where she was conducting “active shooter training” with students without authorization, according to a statement from the school’s principal. The San Antonio Police department confirmed that the teacher, 54-year-old Shawn Wesley, was accused of possessing a firearm on school grounds.

The incident was brought to the attention of Wood Middle School administration by a student who reported that the teacher may have had a gun. The district’s police department detained Wesley and conducted a search, which led to the confiscation of the firearm. Students also reported that the teacher was conducting active shooter training, without the authority to do so.

One of the students, 13-year-old Aniah Hammond, provided details about Wesley’s actions during class. According to Hammond, Wesley had asked the students if they had ever been through a lockdown drill, before proceeding to take the students through such a drill. Wesley even demonstrated a chokehold on a student and made them hide in a closet, while she stayed outside with a student in a wheelchair. Hammond reported that the exercise lasted throughout the fourth period, and it made her feel uneasy.

Hammond also added that Wesley used a stick to jam the door in order to demonstrate how to impede an intruder from entering. She locked the door and picked random students to go outside, which led to her classmates experiencing a sense of discomfort. Hammond did not see a gun in the classroom. However, she stated that Wesley’s behavior was suspicious and that it made her feel uneasy.

The school’s principal, Brad Henze, said that the teacher will not be returning to the district as a substitute. Henze made it clear that the teacher’s instructions to the students “is not supported or endorsed by NEISD.” The incident has put the spotlight on the importance of providing proper training and authorizations to teachers, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics such as shootings.

The incident serves as an important reminder that the safety of students should always remain a top priority, and that any action that can compromise their wellbeing should be taken seriously. The NEISD’s response highlights the district’s commitment to ensuring the highest level of safety and security for its students.