Kevin Vanlanham, 36, principal of E.M. Pease Middle School on San Antonio’s West Side, was arrested early Wednesday after police say he drove the wrong way on West Loop 1604. Officers stopped him shortly after 2 a.m., and jail logs indicate he failed a breath test and was booked on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He was released on bond later that afternoon and, according to district officials, remains employed at Pease.
According to KSAT, a Converse police lieutenant said officers pulled Vanlanham over after seeing him driving the wrong way in the westbound lanes of Loop 1604. Jail records reviewed by the station say he failed a breathalyzer test and was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on a Class B misdemeanor DWI before posting bond shortly after 2:30 p.m. that day.
Pease’s campus page and other Northside Independent School District records show Vanlanham has worked in San Antonio schools since 2013 and became principal at E.M. Pease Middle School in the summer of 2025. The district lists him as the school’s principal and notes a background that includes classroom teaching and administrative roles across multiple NISD campuses, with the school site offering a brief biography of his time in the district.
What the charge means
Under Texas law, a first-offense DWI is typically filed as a Class B misdemeanor, which can carry fines of up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail, although the actual penalty can shift depending on the details of the case. Texas statutes, as compiled by Justia, also outline tougher consequences when aggravating circumstances or prior DWI convictions are involved.
District response
In a statement to KSAT, a Northside ISD spokesperson said Vanlanham is still employed by the district and is not on leave. The district did not share any additional information about possible personnel actions, and officials indicated that local court filings will ultimately shape the case timeline.
Next steps
The case will move through the Bexar County court system, where any formal charges will be entered and hearings scheduled. For now, court records and future district communications will provide the next official updates as the situation develops.
