A Leander High School special education teacher has been charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a student, authorities confirmed. Michael Winters is facing allegations of sexual involvement with a student back in September 2023, a charge that carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
After posting a $15,000 bond, Winters was released from Williamson County Jail on Sunday, as The Austin American Statesman reported. The information document filed by the Williamson County District Attorney cites the incident that occurred on September 8. At this time, no attorney has been listed for Winters on court documents.
Principal Chris Simpson of Leander High School sent out a letter to families, revealing that Winters had been placed "on administrative leave pending an investigation conducted by the Leander Police Department and Child Protective Services," as soon as the school became aware of the possibility of "potential inappropriate contact." Simpson emphasized the school's commitment to high standards of conduct and mentioned services such as the 'Anonymous Alerts' program that allows for the reporting of any unethical behavior within schools.
The Leander High School administration took quick action to ensure support for students' continuity of instruction and services by arranging "for highly qualified staff," according to the letter obtained by KXAN. They are looking to quickly move forward with the ongoing legal process with due respect for privacy concerns.
Winters, who joined Leander ISD in August 2023, had also worked at Burnet CISD and a charter school run by the University of Texas named The Settlement Home for Children, as per records from the Texas Education Agency. The TEA has also confirmed that Winters is under review by its Educator Investigations Division. As investigations continue, the Leander Police Department has stated they cannot provide more details as the case involves a minor and is still active.
