A former Texas high school teacher, Molly Colleen Spears, 35, surrendered to police this week, a year after an indictment and arrest warrant were issued against her. Spears, who taught arts and language at Barbers Hill School in Mont Belvieu, is accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a male student in June 2023.
The charges against Spears include a second-degree felony for an improper relationship between an educator and a student. The student’s age has not been disclosed. It is alleged that Spears used text messages to arrange meetings with the student.
Spears began her tenure at Barbers Hill Independent School District in August 2021 and resigned in June 2023. The district confirmed her resignation but declined to comment on any internal investigations, citing policy.
The Texas Education Agency records indicate that Spears’ teaching certificate has been inactive since September 2024. The agency has been investigating allegations of misconduct against her.
A Chambers County grand jury indicted Spears on February 8, 2024, and an arrest warrant was issued shortly after. The reasons for the delay in her arrest remain unclear.
Spears’ defense attorney, Christopher L. Tritico, stated that his client was only notified of the charges two days prior to her surrender. He expressed his client’s eagerness to confront the allegations and resolve the matter. The Barbers Hill ISD Police Department has not yet commented on the case.
Spears turned herself in at the Chambers County Jail on Tuesday and was released on a $50,000 bond. If found guilty, she could face up to 20 years in prison. This incident is not the first time the school district has been in the news. Previously, a black student with dreadlocks was suspended for violating the school’s dress code.