At a January 20 Celina Independent School District (ISD) board meeting, parents and community members called for the resignation of the district’s board of trustees and Superintendent Dr. Tom Maglisceau. The demands stemmed from concerns over how the district handled the situation involving former coach Caleb Elliott, who faces serious criminal charges and whose hiring and supervision have raised broader questions about district oversight and governance.
Criminal Case and Allegations
Caleb Elliott was arrested on October 3 and remains in custody on charges that he recorded and photographed students nude in a locker room at Moore Middle School. Authorities have identified around 40 alleged victims. In addition to the criminal charges, there are allegations that Elliott was transferred to Moore Middle School after prior misconduct at another campus, had an inappropriate relationship with a student, placed cameras in the locker room, and forced students to perform exercises while nude.
Four lawsuits have been filed against Celina ISD and Elliott. One lawsuit was filed by state Rep. Mitch Little (R-Lewisville) on behalf of 17 families. Another lawsuit names not only Elliott but also Superintendent Maglisceau, Moore Middle School Principal Allison Ginn, and head football coach Bill Elliott, who is Caleb Elliott’s father.
Independent Investigation and Its Scope
On January 13, Celina ISD announced the findings of an independent investigation commissioned by the district. The investigation did not address Elliott’s criminal charges. Instead, it focused on whether any actions by district employees other than Caleb Elliott constituted violations of policy, regulation, or civil school laws.
The investigation concluded that the district did not find wrongdoing by its employees. Shortly after the announcement, both Ginn and Bill Elliott resigned. On January 16, the district released the full redacted 85-page investigative report.
While the investigation stated that it did not substantiate allegations of misconduct by district employees, many parents said the report itself raised troubling issues about hiring practices, oversight, and internal controls.
Hiring Concerns and Allegations of Favoritism
The report outlined Principal Ginn’s reservations about hiring Caleb Elliott. For professional reasons, she believed he “did not do well in the interview or have good answers to questions.” One witness told investigators it felt like a “foregone conclusion that Caleb Elliott would be hired based on who his dad is.”
Witness statements and Ginn’s text messages described Bill Elliott’s involvement and influence in his son’s hiring. One witness reported that Bill Elliott raised his voice during a meeting with Ginn about the issue. The report also included a section titled “Hostile Work Environment at Moore Middle School,” which contained four pages of heavily redacted information.
Concerns were also raised about the reference-checking process. One individual contacted as a reference reportedly told Ginn that Elliott would not be “a good fit for the position based on his immaturity.” Despite this, Ginn served as Elliott’s first reference, stating she had known him for one semester as his supervisor. A second reference described Elliott as “hardworking” and “committed.”
The report noted inconsistencies in hiring practices, stating that “a small sample of reference checks for new hires at Moore Middle School during the same time period shows that third references were not always checked by administrations.”
The investigation concluded that while there was no policy prohibiting family members from working together, there was “at least some evidence that family members (e.g., Caleb Elliott) may not have been put through a rigorous hiring process.” The report added that this “amounts to special treatment which violates Board Policy.”
“How many other coaches or teachers were hired because of who they knew or were related to, versus based on merit?” one parent asked the board.
Performance, Supervision, and Prior Concerns
The report listed several concerns about Elliott’s behavior prior to his arrest, including selling an Apple Watch and cologne to students, poor hygiene, and unprofessional appearance. One witness described him as “immature” and “more like a kid than a teacher.”
The investigation also found that Elliott was removed from locker room duties during the 2024–2025 school year. One witness cited a “rumbling” among parents questioning whether Elliott should be in the locker room after he came out as gay.
Parents questioned how evaluations and supervision were handled. “You talk about evaluations within the school, the principal not doing evaluations, whoever's responsible for holding the evaluation… that person should be fired,” one parent said.
Financial Oversight Issues in Athletics
Beyond personnel concerns, the investigation identified issues related to financial oversight in the athletics department and booster activities. Investigators reported that a “big box of bank statements” was gathered from Bill Elliott’s office, including records for “Celina FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes]” using the district’s central administration address.
A large amount of cash was reportedly found in a safe in Bill Elliott’s office. According to the report, the cash allegedly came from doctors who performed physicals for student athletes and then “donated” the money back to the athletics department. The investigation stated that athletics “apparently keeps no records to account for the receipt of this donation or adequate accounting of how the donation is used,” and that district administration was unaware of the practice.
“Celina ISD needs standards,” one parent said. He added that if standards had been followed, “38 families would not have had to endure the tragedy caused by a sick pervert pedophile,” and alleged that Bill Elliott “wouldn't be allowed to receive kickbacks and have a safe full of cash in his office.”
Claims of Institutional Control Problems
Several parents said the findings pointed to larger systemic issues. One parent described concern with “the laundry list of wrongdoings found in the report,” noting that these findings resulted from reviewing the hiring of only one individual.
“As evidenced in the report, the district needs a complete overhaul. I would argue that the report easily demonstrates that there’s a lack of institutional control,” the parent said.
Another parent pointed to the involvement of board members referenced anonymously in the investigation. Three unnamed witnesses were identified as board members, described as close friends of Bill Elliott. One board member reportedly called Bill Elliott “one of his dearest friends” and said he knew Caleb Elliott as “the son of his best friend.” Two board members have attended weekly Bible study with Bill Elliott for years.
“Resign. And resign tonight,” one parent told the board. “It’s a good ol’ boy program and you're protecting Bill.”
Board Response and Ongoing Questions
Following public comment, the Celina ISD board of trustees and Superintendent Maglisceau entered a closed session for approximately two and a half hours. The session included two agenda items related to the situation. The board adjourned without providing additional public information or taking visible action.
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