A former Klein ISD elementary school nurse is facing felony charges after prosecutors say she failed to give students their prescribed ADHD medication, substituted over-the-counter medicines such as Aleve and loratadine, and took the real pills for herself. Rachel Hoffman, 37, was arrested at her home following a Harris County grand jury indictment.
Hoffman faces controlled substance fraud and theft charges, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, as reported by Click2Houston. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said the case “should shock the conscience of the community” and said he expects to file additional charges against Hoffman. Teare also said Hoffman “violated the trust placed in people caring for children.”
The allegations trace back to a parent at Kuehnle Elementary School who reported that her twin boys' prescription ADHD medication had disappeared shortly after she delivered a fresh 30-day supply in 2025. A subsequent audit found one of her sons' bottles contained Aleve, while the other contained loratadine, an allergy medication, instead of the prescribed drugs.
Second Audit Widened the Scope
Klein ISD said it discovered the discrepancies through its internal safety and monitoring protocols in April 2025. A second audit uncovered yet another case: a different student's methylphenidate had been swapped with allergy medication, and the child reportedly received the wrong medication for at least eight days, according to the Dallas Express.
Klein ISD fired Hoffman after that second round of findings and said she failed to disclose previous school district employment and related concerns when she was hired. The district has pledged full cooperation with law enforcement, licensing agencies, and the Texas Board of Nursing, per the same report. Klein ISD said Hoffman's actions were “unacceptable” and violated the trust placed in people who care for children. The district also said it took immediate action to investigate.
A Resignation at Magnolia ISD Years Earlier
Before landing at Klein ISD, Hoffman worked as a nurse at Magnolia ISD from August 1, 2023, to September 22, 2023, then resigned while under investigation there, Click2Houston's report states. Magnolia ISD reported its investigation findings to the Texas Board of Nursing, which received formal charges against Hoffman in May. The Dallas Express report adds that Hoffman allegedly did not disclose her prior employment with Magnolia ISD when she was hired at Kuehnle Elementary.
Despite the pending board charges, Hoffman's nursing license remains active.
Prosecutors Say More Victims May Exist
District Attorney Teare said his office will communicate directly with the Texas Board of Nursing as the case proceeds, and that there may be additional victims given how many years Hoffman worked as a school nurse. The Harris County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unit continues investigating the case.
Hoffman posted a $2,100 bond and was released on October 7. Her initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled in Harris County. Her defense attorney, David Breston, declined to comment on the case when reached by Click2Houston.
Not the Only Case Nationally
Similar allegations surfaced in 2019. In Cobb County, Georgia, a school nurse named Lindsey Waggoner was accused of stealing more than $1,500 worth of students' medication from Barber Middle School in Acworth, according to Newsweek. School police reportedly found her in possession of 209 pills, including Adderall, Ritalin, Focalin and Evekeo, and she was jailed on a felony theft-by-taking charge before posting a $15,000 bond. That district placed her on administrative leave and said it was taking steps to reimburse affected families.
