Katie 
Kyle, Texas: A teacher at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos that taught second, fourth and fifth grades has been fired by the school board after he was arrested on two counts of indecency with a child.
The incidents did not occur on school property or during school hours, but at least one student was involved.
49-year-old Andrew Palmore had been placed on administrative leave in December 2020 when the district learned that he was being investigated by Child Protective Services and law enforcement after allegations surfaced that he had touched a 10-year-old student inappropriately while playing hide and seek at a park.
At the time, he told investigators that the placement of his hands was not intentional and the investigation was dropped.
On February 1, 2022, an 11-year-old girl and her mother went to the Kyle Police Department to report that her daughter had been groped at a sleep over at her friend's house.
That same day, the district once again placed Palmore on administrative leave after being notified of the allegations by law enforcement.
During a police interview on February 28, Palmore allegedly admitted to touching the 11-year-old girl at his home, and also admitted that the previous incident investigated in December 2020 was not an accident according to an affidavit seen by The Statesman.
On March 1, the district announced that they fired Palmore during a special meeting. That same day, officers with the Kyle Police Department arrested Palmore on two counts of indecency with a child, and two counts of improper relationship between an educator and student.
"We know these incidents are extremely unsettling for our community," Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett told My San Antonio in a news release, "but we are working together during this difficult time to provide our students and affected families with the justice, care and support they deserve."
Palmore was fist hired as a substitute teacher at Blanco Vista and Science Hall Elementary Schools, and Simon Middle School during the 2012 academic year. He was hired as a full time instructor at Blanco Vista in August 2014. Previously Palmore worked in the Austin, Bastrop, and Del Valle school districts, in addition to several schools in Mexico.
Police are asking that anyone with information contact Detective Carrasco with the Kyle Police Department at (512) 268-3232. They have not stated whether or not they are concerned that there may be more victims.
Citing Texas Education Agency Officials, The Statesman reports that there have been more than 500 cases involving inappropriate contact between an educator and student across the state of Texas in the last 18 months. Before completing the hiring process, all school district employees are required to pass a national finger-print based criminal background check and are thereafter subject to "active monitoring."
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