Former Vice Principal Mentioned in Iowa Park Bullying Lawsuit Now at Grape Creek ISD

SAN ANGELO, TX – Yesterday, LIVE! reported on a case out of Wichita Falls where a mother is suing a north Texas school district for the death of her son (click here). According to a Wichita Falls news source, the vice principal mentioned in the lawsuit, Tim Jetton, is now principal of Grape Creek ISD Middle School, a position he started in August. He reportedly took the position before the filing of the lawsuit.

Roxanne Jones claims Iowa Park Consolidated ISD failed to prevent her son, T.G. Garcia, from being “bullied and discriminated against.” As a result of being bullied, Garcia died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the family’s home on Oct. 26, 2014. He was 14 at the time.

The news source noted that, according to the lawsuit, Garcia suffered from bullying almost every day because of being of mixed ethnic origin, and he had a personality that people perceived as “feminine” and "girly."

When Jones contacted the school about the bullying, the mother claims the vice principal said, “Boys will be boys,” and no action was taken.

“Following the incident, both T.G. and his mother went to Vice Principal Jetton and reported the incident,” said the lawsuit. “The vice principal never investigated the incident.”

The source also reported the lawsuit claims Jetton “never bothered to learn or remember T.G.’s name, referring to him as ‘the little Mexican boy.’”

Additionally, one of Garcia’s friends told Jetton the teen intended to kill himself, and Jetton said he would talk to the boy and his parents, but didn’t do so.

Overall, Garcia’s family is seeking punitive damages for "physical pain, medical expenses, mental anguish, mental health expenses, loss of consortium, physical impairment and loss of life and liberty,” said the news source. There is no specified dollar amount other than reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses to the family and attorney fees.

Steve Moody, superintendent for Iowa Park CISD responded, “While Iowa Park CISD will not address the particulars concerning a pending lawsuit outside of the legal arena, the district disputes many of the claims asserted in the current lawsuit. The district intents to respond to the allegations raised against it in legal pleadings to be filed with the court.”

Moody also said student safety and welfare remain a top priority, and the district has policies in place to protect students against such acts. Additionally, the staff is trained to deal with such incidents.

The Wichita news source indicated Jetton, who is from Electra, worked for Ector County ISD, Electra High School, Midland ISD, Vernon High School, Wichita Falls High School, Marfa ISD, and at City View and Iowa Park high schools before his move to Grape Creek ISD.