Celina middle school principal resigns after independent investigation findings

Allison Ginn, principal of Moore Middle School in Celina ISD, resigned in a statement to families after being placed on administrative leave in October amid an investigation tied to former coach William "Caleb" Elliott. The resignation followed the district's release of results from an independent outside investigation into hiring practices and what, if anything, district staff knew about alleged misconduct.

The investigation into Elliott culminated in criminal action last fall. Elliott was arrested in October, resigned his position, surrendered his teaching license and was later indicted on federal counts related to sexual exploitation of children. The district's internal review focused on how personnel were hired and whether prior concerns about behavior were properly reported and addressed.

Kendric Smith has been named interim principal while Celina ISD conducts a search for a permanent replacement. The change in leadership comes during a sensitive period for students, families and staff, many of whom have expressed both gratitude for Ginn's day-to-day leadership and concern about whether she should face collateral consequences for matters connected to other employees.

Parents and teachers in Celina voiced praise for Ginn's work at Moore Middle School and questioned the fairness of punitive measures against staff whose actions may be linked to decisions by others. That reaction underscores a broader community struggle: balancing accountability for institutional failures with fair treatment of individual educators who serve students day to day.

In response to findings, Celina ISD said it has updated policies governing sensitive areas such as locker rooms and will prepare a report disclosing details of the independent investigation while protecting confidentiality for victims and witnesses. Those policy changes aim to reduce environmental risks and clarify staff responsibilities for supervision and reporting.

Public health and community implications are substantial. Schools are key sites for prevention, early intervention and recovery when children experience sexual exploitation or other trauma. The district faces urgent tasks: restoring trust, ensuring consistent reporting and supervision practices across campuses, expanding access to trauma-informed counseling for students and staff, and making sure changes protect the most vulnerable students equitably. Students from marginalized households and families with limited access to mental health care will be disproportionately affected if supports are uneven.

For families in Collin County, the immediate priorities are transparency and safety. Celina ISD's forthcoming report and the district's implementation of revised policies will be central to how quickly community trust can be rebuilt. The interim leadership under Kendric Smith and the district's plans for counseling, disclosure and policy enforcement will determine whether those priorities translate into safer schools and clearer accountability going forward.