Uvalde Elementary Principal Reinstated After School Shooting Investigation, Lawyer Says
Mandy Gutierrez was put on paid leave July 25 and responded to a Texas House committee鈥檚 investigative report about the massacre two days later
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Three days after the Uvalde superintendent placed the principal of Robb Elementary School on paid administrative leave, Mandy Gutierrez is back in her leadership position, according to her lawyer. The reinstatement came one day after in a about security at her school.
According to a letter from Superintendent Hal Harrell that Gutierrez鈥檚 attorney released July 28, she resumed her duties as principal after her submission of additional information to the investigative committee.
Gutierrez was July 25, more than two months after a shooting at Robb left 19 students and two teachers dead. It was the worst school shooting in Texas history.
The letter to Gutierrez from Harrell suggested that her leave was related to the House committee鈥檚 investigation.
鈥淭hank you for responding to our request for information by submitting your response to the House Investigative Report. As a result of our review, you will be allowed to return to work,鈥� Harrell wrote.
In a statement responding to the reinstatement, Ricardo Cedillo, Gutierrez鈥檚 lawyer, said, 鈥渟he has been fully reinstated to her position, where she will continue to discharge her duties and continue to serve all the families of the [Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District].鈥�
The House committee鈥檚 report pointed to several systemic failures in law enforcement鈥檚 response to the shooting. The committee also alleged that issues at Robb Elementary, including a culture of complacency with security measures, allowed the shooter to enter the school unobstructed.
In to the House committee, she rejected assertions that she created an environment of complacency regarding school safety. She said that by not announcing a lockdown alert over the intercom system she had followed her training, and that the door through which the shooter is believed to have entered the classroom had a functioning lock, two areas of investigation by the House committee.
Harrell did not respond to a request for comment. Anne Marie Espinoza, a spokesperson for the district, said the 鈥淯valde Consolidated Independent School District follows a practice of not addressing personnel matters.鈥�
Uriel J. Garc铆a contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared in , a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
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