A former student of Azle High School has filed a federal lawsuit against Azle Independent School District amidst allegations of sexual abuse by a former coach. The civil suit, filed August 11, centers on claims of deliberate indifference in violation of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. The lawsuit has named Superintendent Todd Smith, former Athletic Director Rebecca Spurlock, and Coach Carlos Alberto Font Santiago as defendants, according to an article by The Azle News.
The legal action, which seeks to address what has been described as a "cavalier attitude toward alleged sexual assault of a child," has brought to the forefront a series of disturbing events. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleges that Font Santiago began grooming her for sexual abuse during her time at the school, starting in 2021. The lawsuit also accuses the district of being aware of the coach's arrest on the same day he was allowed to coach a game—an event that has raised questions about the district’s response to the allegations. "My client feels that a significant part of her childhood has been stolen from her by this sexual predator," attorney Rod Tanner told FOX 4.
Former Azle ISD Athletic Director Rebecca Spurlock and Superintendent Todd Smith have both filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit, with Spurlock citing qualified immunity as her defense. Tanner, the attorney for the plaintiff, believes that the evidence will invalidate Spurlock's claim to qualified immunity and allow the case to go to trial. Tanner has called for any knowledgeable individuals, including former students and staff, to come forward with information, as investigator Krissy Morrison explains to FOX 4, "We're interested in any former students, teachers, employers, coaches who had knowledge of this behavior from the coach at Azle ISD."
Jane Doe recounts in her lawsuit a pattern of sexual assault that took place during the 2021-2023 school years. This included meetings with Font Santiago at least three times per week in his empty classroom during seventh period to engage in sexual activity, as well as continuous communication via social media channels such as Snapchat and Instagram. These allegations place a harsh spotlight on the internal dynamics of Azle ISD, with claims that school officials, including Spurlock, may have failed to act upon signs of the coach's inappropriate behavior. The plaintiff is now seeking compensatory damages for "mental anguish, emotional pain and distress, embarrassment, anxiety, shame and reputational harm," on top of exemplary damages against Font Santiago and Spurlock personally for their alleged indifference to her constitutional rights, as stated in the lawsuit covered by The Azle News.
