J.L. Everhart Elementary School International Baccalaureate teacher Priscilla Rosa Johnson and teacher’s aide Cynthia Denise Talley arrested in abuse probe

As part of a larger investigation into the alleged abuse of special education kids at the campus, two former J.L. Everhart Elementary School employees were detained on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Priscilla Rosa Johnson, 56, a former IB teacher from Longview, and Cynthia Denise Talley, 55, a former teacher’s aide from Longview, were the last of a group of women who had previously worked at the campus and had been charged and indicted in the inquiry to be taken into custody.

Talley is charged with seven counts of causing bodily harm to children and one count of unlawfully restraining a person under the age of 17. Johnson was freed from jail on a $7,500 bond following a grand jury indictment for causing bodily harm to children.

According to Johnson’s indictment, on September 13, 2021, she used a sneaker to strike a youngster with the initials “J.G.” who was 14 years old or younger. She also “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly and with criminal negligence engaged in conduct that placed J.G., a child less than 15 years of age, in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, and physical and mental impairment” according to the indictment. She also “did not voluntarily deliver J.G. to a designated emergency infant care provider (as required by law)”

Talley is charged in two indictments totaling four counts. Bonds for her release from custody totaled $20,000.

The accusations relate to events that happened in August and September 2021 involving kids under the ages of 14 and 17. The arrests of Johnson and Talley came after four others since Friday in connection with claims that J.L. Everhart abused students in special education. According to the indictments, Talley struck one child with a ruler, struck two other children with her hand, struck a child with a shoe, poked a child with her finger, struck a child with a ruler, and “by force, intimidation, and deception, restrained” a child under the age of 17 by limiting his movement and “confining” him.

Johnson resigned in April, with effect from May 27. When Talley’s employment ended is unknown.

Johnson declared that she is “happy to be a JLE Jaguar!” on her profile as a fifth-grade teacher, which was still up as of Wednesday on the J.L. Everhart website. I’ve been teaching for 16 years, and this is the start of my sixth year at LISD.

“As an IB instructor, my goal for your student is to support their learning through active cycles of inquiry, action, and reflection. As your student develops the pedagogies necessary for both academic and personal success, I will facilitate and support them.

In 2019, she was also given a Lamplighter award by the Longview ISD Foundation. Essays that students write on their teachers and other district employees serve as the basis for the yearly awards.

The initials of the child named in Johnson’s and Talley’s indictments match those listed in previous indictments involving the other four instructors who have been detained and released from custody over the past week.

Other people charged in the case include former special education teacher Cecilia Gregg, 57, who left her position with J.L. Everhart effective October 19, 2021; former principal Cassandra Renee James, 47; former assistant principal Linda Kay Browne Lister, 60; and former teacher’s aide Paula Hawkins Dixon, 59 on July 26.

Last known contact information

Priscilla Johnson
Address: 224 PR 3443 LONGVIEW, TX 75602

Cynthia Talley
Address: 1448 W Fairmont St Unit 201 Longview, TX 75604
Phone: (903) 445-2599
Email: alleygal@gmail.com

Jail Information

Priscilla Johnson
Booking #: 22-00125890

Cynthia Talley
Booking #: 22-00125904