I wanted to thank each of you again for signing the petition to remove April Jewell as principal of Lorena Primary. Your voices matter and we now have a major development to share.
Important Update:
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has officially ruled against April Jewell’s attempt to claim qualified immunity in the case involving the abuse of a special needs child under her watch. This means a federal court found there was enough evidence against her to hold her personally accountable for failing to act and yet she is still employed as principal at Lorena ISD.
This is not speculation. This is a published, legal ruling.
What this means:
A federal court believes her inaction may have violated a child’s rights.
Her appeal has been denied and she is out of legal defenses.
And yet, Lorena ISD continues to keep her in charge of young children daily.
Why This Matters:
We cannot allow the district to quietly retain someone who has already been found negligent in a case involving child safety. This is exactly why we began this petition and this ruling proves we were justified.
Next Steps:
Share this update widely.
Email the school board demanding accountability for this ruling.
Continue applying pressure — silence is how districts bury the truth.
Thank you for continuing to stand up for children and families in Lorena. The district may ignore us, but the Fifth Circuit Court did not. We deserve better leadership and real accountability.
Please reply if you’d like a copy of the court ruling or need help contacting the school board.
With determination,
Jessica Montez