Another Texas Teacher Caught Exploiting Children

The recent scandal surrounding a coach at Celina ISD who was once entrusted with the care of young boys is a grave alarm for all Texas families who believe schools should be sanctuaries of safety, character, and trust.

What Happened

• The coach in question, Caleb Elliott, formerly a teacher and football coach at Moore Middle School, has been indicted on serious criminal charges. According to a federal grand jury, he faces eight counts of sexual exploitation of children for allegedly coercing minors into sexually explicit conduct between April and October 2025 for the purpose of producing exploitative imagery.

• The allegations are not limited to a single incident: lawsuits filed by multiple families claim that there were earlier warning signs. One lawsuit contends that while serving as a substitute teacher at the high school in the 2022–23 school year, Elliott had an improper relationship with a student. Rather than removing him, the district reassigned him to the middle school.

• Once at the middle school, the lawsuit alleges, he secretly installed cameras and recorded boys in locker rooms and shower areas. Among the allegations: instructing a student to perform jumping jacks while naked and loitering near showers when boys changed.

• Law enforcement reportedly found images on his phone displaying dozens of victims, prompting multiple arrests and the surrender of his teaching license after his resignation.

  
  

A Wider Problem

This case is particularly painful because it lays bare how the prestige of athletics, especially in a football-obsessed community, may have helped shield alleged wrongdoing. The father of the accused coach, Bill Elliott, is the head football coach and athletic director of Celina High School; under his leadership, the school recently won a state championship.

According to lawsuits, that influence gave the “Elliott name” outsized weight within the district. As one complaint reads, the athletic department functioned like a “fiefdom,” structurally insulated from proper oversight.

The pattern described by the plaintiffs suggests that when the allegations first surfaced, the district chose to protect its football empire rather than protect children. Reassigning an alleged abuser, rather than removing him, and allowing him continued access to minors, is a profound betrayal of trust.

These children were placed in a position of vulnerability. The abuse of power by an adult in a position of authority has real consequences: emotional trauma, loss of trust in educators and institutions, fear of public changing spaces, and a compromised sense of safety.

So what should families and communities do? 

• Demand full transparency and accountability. The district must open records, provide clear reports to parents, and cooperate fully with law enforcement and civil suits. Families deserve to know what was reported, when, and how the district responded.

• Demand independent oversight over the athletic department. When a coach or athletic-department figure holds outsized influence, there must be checks and balances, especially in school systems with middle and high school grade levels.

• Finally, prioritize child safety over sports glory. Winning championships should never come at the cost of moral and ethical standards. Safeguards, including background checks, careful monitoring of locker rooms, and clear boundaries must be implemented and enforced.

The scandal at Celina ISD is more than a local disgrace. It is a wake-up call for all Texas families! It is a parent’s job to protect their children and Texas public schools continue to fail in the safety arena. Is it safer to homeschool? That is your decision to make.