The Texas Education Agency has expanded its statewide Do Not Hire (DNH) Registry by adding 21 non-certified school employees and contractors, marking one of the largest single-day updates in recent years. The action immediately prohibits the listed individuals from working in Texas public schools in any capacity involving student contact while criminal cases against them move through the justice system.
The expansion reflects a significant policy shift enabled by Senate Bill 571, passed by the Texas Legislature, which broadened the authority of the Commissioner of Education to include not only certified educators but also non-certified staff and outside contractors. Under the previous framework, the registry primarily focused on certified teachers, which created gaps that sometimes allowed individuals under investigation to move between districts or school-related roles without consistent statewide oversight.
With the updated law, placement on the DNH registry can occur following a qualifying arrest even before a conviction is reached. That placement triggers an immediate employment ban in public schools across the state. If any of the individuals are later convicted of the charges they face, the prohibition becomes permanent under state rules.
The 21 individuals added to the registry on Friday include William Anthony Blackburn, Casie Booty, Teddy Coleman, Andrew Collier, Juana Estrada, Jeanet Hernandez, Rafael Hinojosa, Latoya Jackson, Shonterrick Johnson, Maria Jolley, Jherson Manuel, Dwight Merrell, Sade Muhammad, Jonathan Okray, Lee Rios, William Ritz, Kimberlie Rodriguez, Richa Sharma, Jordan Smith, Skyler Stricker, and Kyisha Wright. Each is now barred from employment in Texas public schools while their respective legal proceedings continue.
State officials said the update was the result of coordinated efforts between the agency’s Educator Investigations and Enforcement divisions and local law enforcement partners. The process is designed to ensure rapid response when credible allegations or arrests involving school personnel arise, preventing continued access to students during active investigations.
Mike Morath, the state’s education commissioner, emphasized that the updated registry system is intended to strengthen student protections by ensuring that individuals accused of criminal conduct are promptly removed from school environments while cases are pending. Agency leadership has described the expanded authority as a critical tool for closing oversight gaps that previously existed in the system.
The agency’s Inspector General for Educator Misconduct, Levi Fuller, noted that additional cases remain under active review and that further additions to the registry are expected in the coming weeks as investigations progress. Officials characterized the current wave of enforcement as part of a broader effort to identify potential risks to student safety more quickly and consistently across districts.
The Texas Education Agency is also encouraging school personnel, parents, and community members to report any suspected misconduct involving educators or other school employees to both local law enforcement and state education authorities. Officials say early reporting plays a key role in enabling timely investigations and protecting students while legal processes unfold.
