A substitute teacher was fired from Mesquite ISD and arrested after a video emerged showing the substitute allegedly encouraging and facilitating fights between students in class.
The substitute, 24-year-old Natally Garcia, has been charged with four counts of endangering a child. A criminal investigation was launched into Garcia after she reportedly encouraged a so-called “fight club” and threatened students with retaliation if they filmed the incident with their phones during class.
Garcia was only hired as a substitute teacher for the school district in early March.
In the video, Garcia reportedly told the class that she didn’t “want this on record” in between scenes of students pairing up for brawls.
Students violently threw punches and kicked one another until bloody, all while seemingly being egged on by Garcia.
The video shows Garcia apparently facilitating the fights by using a timer. The timer can be heard in the video, and Garcia is allegedly heard multiple times using the timer to warn students they have “30 seconds” until they are instructed to fight.
Garcia also reportedly had a student watch the door for other staff or students during the fights, according to a statement Mesquite ISD released to NBC 5.
“The teacher involved was a substitute teacher employed by Mesquite ISD since March 6. As of yesterday, she is no longer employed by the district and is not eligible for rehire in any capacity,” the statement read.
“Our investigation revealed that this substitute teacher encouraged students to fight each other during class, outlined rules for the students to follow, and even instructed a student to monitor the classroom door while the fights took place. Her actions are appalling and intolerable.”
Mesquite ISD told NBC 5 last week that Mesquite police had been informed of Garcia’s alleged actions so the department could potentially charge her with a crime.
“Yesterday afternoon, campus administrators personally contacted all parents of the students in the class by phone to inform them of the situation and the school’s swift response. As educators, our hearts are heavy knowing that an individual entrusted with the supervision and care of our students could behave in this manner, and we share the disgust that the families of students in this class must feel. MISD referred this matter to Mesquite Police to pursue possible criminal charges resulting from this former substitute’s reckless and irresponsible actions.”
On Monday, it was announced that Garcia had been taken into custody and charged with child endangerment.
It’s unclear if there is any connection between the two incidents, but a 23-year-old Florida teacher was arrested after seemingly conducting a similar “fight club” scenario with middle school students after hours just 10 days ago.
Like Garcia, the Florida teacher apparently used a timer and refereed fights between students.