Doral Academy in Buda continues to be plagued with issues

BUDA — In the fall of 2022, teachers and students filled the halls of Doral Academy, a brand new charter school that opened in Buda. After one full school year, former teachers and staff members continue to raise the alarm, alleging questionable policies and retaliation.

One particular series of events, which ultimately led to voluntary resignation or termination of three staff members, sheds light on the way mandated reports to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) are handled.

The situation initially came to the attention of former Doral counselor Tara Williams via a staff member who had concerns about potential neglect of a child.

Based on Williams’ previous training, she knew that as a mandatory reporter, she was legally obligated to report any suspicion of abuse to DFPS.

“In abuse trainings, we are told not to try to investigate it or interview the child. It is up to DFPS to determine whether there is abuse or not,” Williams said.

Shortly after the child was taken to see the nurse, who suspected a UTI, Child Protective Services (CPS) representatives began to come to the school to talk to different people.

Former Doral nurse Aimee Schubbe recalled her first knowledge of the CPS investigation. “I’m in the hallway, headed to my office. There's this woman standing there. And she said, ‘Are you the nurse?’”

After Schubbe confirmed, the woman said, “Hi, my name is [removed for privacy]. I'm from CPS, I need to talk to you.”

Because the nurse had an urgent situation in her office, she asked the CPS worker to wait. Ultimately, Schubbe said they talked on the phone later that day, at which time she was informed of a pending investigation into the child from a few days prior.

“Wow, whoa, whoa, whoa. Nobody said anything about neglect. Nobody said anything about anything. This is my story. This is what I know. This is what I said. And that's it,” Schubbe told the investigator.

Around 4 p.m. that day, Schubbe said she was called into principal Jennifer DeSousa’s office.

“So, I go in there and her and Ryan Salazar are sitting there. And then, all of a sudden, here comes counselor [Tara] Williams. She sits down, and before I knew it, we were in this yelling match,” Schubbe explained. “Williams said to me, ‘You're letting her chew you out and you had no part of this … I'm the one who called CPS.’”

According to Schubbe, DeSousa asked Williams, “Why didn't you tell me that you called?” to which Williams responded, “I don't have to tell you by law.”

That is when, according to Schubbe, “DeSousa gave her probably one of the most disrespectful [reprimands] I have ever been a part of.”

“She told [Williams] and I that when it came to CPS cases, she had to be told first, she had to be aware first and that we were not allowed to file a CPS case unless we were given permission from her,” Schubbe said.

“Mrs. DeSousa pulled me and the nurse and Mr. Salazar into her office and I got scolded in front of them,” Williams explained. “Mr. Salazar just said, ‘We would have just appreciated a heads up so we knew they were coming.’ That’s something I can accommodate. Next time, I’ll let you know, even though it’s anonymous and anyone can do it at anytime. I’m willing to let you know in the future.”

“But that’s not why DeSousa raised her voice at me and scolded me. She raised her voice and scolded me because I called in the first place. She even asked me what I put in the report, which is not her job. I don’t have to tell her any of that,” she continued. “But I was scared and, because this is my first job as a school counselor, I was worried that I did something wrong.”

“So, I told her what I put in the report and she replied, ‘Oh, that’s not abuse. I’ve been doing this for 20 years. That’s not abuse,’” Williams said.

“And when she said that, I knew right away: Her first priority is not the safety of the kids, it’s the image of the school. And I couldn’t work for someone like that,” said Williams. “If I went to DeSousa first and asked her if it was abuse before I reported it, and she said no and I didn’t report it, I could’ve done jail time and the child could’ve gotten seriously hurt.”

According to an email Williams sent to the principal and school board members after her resignation, “I started looking for a new job the day you called me into your office after CPS visited the campus.”

“To make matters worse, you asked me what I reported and proceeded to tell me what I reported wasn't abuse, which is not only unethical, but according to my CPS contacts, illegal,” the email continued.

According to Texas Family Code Sec. 261.101, “A person having reasonable cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall immediately make a report as provided by this subchapter.”

Furthermore, it states, “If a professional has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected … and the professional has reasonable cause to believe that the child has been abused as defined by Section 261.001, the professional shall make a report not later than the 48th hour after the hour the professional first has reasonable cause to believe that the child has been or may be abused or neglected …”

Mark Wilson, media relations specialist for DFPS, explained, “Texas law Sec. 261.110 states that employers may not suspend or terminate the employment of, discriminate against, or take any other adverse employment action against a person who is a professional and who in good faith reports child abuse or neglect to a supervisor, facility administrator, state regulatory agency or law enforcement agency …”

“State law does not require reporters to inform anyone that they have filed a report, and the identity of reporters is confidential,” Wilson continued.

In late October, Williams resigned.

Schubbe said she was terminated in November after calling an ambulance for a student in respiratory distress.

In December, an additional staff member involved in the situation was terminated.

Doral Academy and principal DeSousa did not respond to multiple requests for comment.