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Elementary School Principal Arrested After Leaving Kids, Going to a Bar
Filed under: In The News
A Texas elementary school principal was arrested May 8, after she allegedly left her two young children alone in a hotel room and went to a club.
Carla Westbrook-Spaniel, principal of J.P. Elder Elementary School in Fort Worth, Texas, was denied entry into the Mantus Club in downtown Dallas because of the way she was dressed, CBS 11 reports. Westbrook-Spaniel, 44, then punched the bouncer in the stomach, according to police. Officers attempted to restrain her, but she started resisting them.
"They laid her on her side, like we're trained to do, and at that point she started flailing around -- which caused the abrasions on her face," Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse with the Dallas Police Department tells CBS 11. "[She] was flailing her arms so violently she scratched her own face."
Westbrook-Spaniel initially told police her children, ages 3 and 4, were alone in a nearby hotel, but then said they were with a babysitter in Arlington. Officers investigated and found the children naked and sleeping at the Adolphus Hotel, CBS 11 reports.
The principal initially refused to give police or Child Protective Services any family members' contact information, but CPS eventually found her in-laws and placed the children in their grandparents' custody. Westbrook-Spaniel's husband, Army reserve Capt. Keith Spaniel, is on his third deployment to Iraq.
The school district released this statement to CBS 11: "Dr. Spaniel has a long history of excellence as a leader and an educator. We have not yet had the opportunity to speak with her about this. We will be seeking facts and details and the district will take appropriate actions based on the facts."
Westbrook-Spaniel is currently on administrative leave. She faces one count of public intoxication and two counts of child abandonment, CBS 11 reports.
Julissa Ceia, an eighth grader at J.P. Elder, says Westbrook-Spaniel tells them to "'think about what you do before you do it." Ceia adds, "After what happened, she could've thought about it and she wouldn't have gotten in trouble."
Related: School Principal Accused of Locking Students in Cages











ReaderComments (Page 1 of 4)
5-12-2010 @ 12:11PM
yvonne said...Wow! This is a person who was entrusted with the well being of your babes. How scary is that?
Reply
5-12-2010 @ 12:19PM
wterrietw0000 said...makes you wonder. how many skanky mothers or fathers pull this crap and get away with it. if i was married to that i guess like her husband i would rather be shot at!!
5-12-2010 @ 12:33PM
SUSIE H. said...Well, the Principal is a human being, not a God or Goddess. So that she fell from grace is sad, it is not unusual or un-heard of. Her behavior; while reprehensible left only her own children in harm"s way, that evening. Now her own children will suffer from her lack of responsibility for quite some time as she is now likely to lose her employment. It's a sad state of affairs for everyone connected with this woman. The State where she works will be burdened with providing for her children if she is fired. There will be not Unemployment Compensation for her as it's highly probable that her behavior violates the "morals" clause under which she was employed. And despite her recklessness the child still have to be fed and cared for. That means someone will have to pick up the tab. Society certainly can't expect her children to suffer for her foolishness.
Thank You,
Susie H.
5-12-2010 @ 12:48PM
Judith Kean said...Just a thought. This may be a case of depression. The student in the video said she had not been herself recently. Then the article mentions her husband is on his third deployment to Iraq. Perhaps she just snapped under that pressure of him being gone again. It does happen.Maybe she doesn't have a support system in place to help her cope with that, like family and other wives in that situation. Sounds like she need psychiatric help.
5-12-2010 @ 12:53PM
ron said...susie h you are probably right on with your post but the one thing you left out is that she will be able to go to another state and get a job in the education field
5-12-2010 @ 1:11PM
Simzee said...This woman could've been anyone of YOU.
5-12-2010 @ 2:19PM
bazel said...This woman is either a "good woman who has suffered a psychotic break", an "alcoholic", or a "really bad woman" who has previously gone undetected. In any case, she should not be taking care of two precious little ones, nor a school of them right now, or in the future, until she gets assessed, and then is given appropriated treatments herself. Thank goodness, she was apprehended so her two little ones could be saved.
5-12-2010 @ 1:59PM
Ramona said...I agree, it's very frightening! I'm becoming more afraid to leave my children anywhere I can't see or personally supervise them, even school, scouts, church, summer camp.....Though I believe that the vast majority of people who work with children are descent, responsible adults, it's impossible to tell who the "bad guys" are! For her own sake, I hope this mother/principal has a very compelling explanation for her behavior.
5-12-2010 @ 3:05PM
Larry Caldwell said...EAT MY SHORTS "hot561"
5-12-2010 @ 4:06PM
Miko Rose said...Do you notice? There are a lot of people like this doing crazy uncharacteristic things lately.More strange days ahead I guess.
5-12-2010 @ 7:21PM
All Winners LOVE Winners said...Hmm
5-12-2010 @ 12:27PM
Rhi said...And these are the people we have teaching and responsible for taking care of our kids daily in school????? DISGUSTING... get that LOSER outta there! C'mon people is this what this crap society is coming to?
Reply
5-12-2010 @ 7:21PM
All Winners LOVE Winners said...AMEN
5-12-2010 @ 12:48PM
mark said...i want to see the arrest footage, you know it's out there. Let me know if you find it.
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5-12-2010 @ 5:06PM
Foul Play said...I'd like to see the footage too. In no way am I defending the woman, but I have a hard time believing "she was flailing so hard she scratched her own face" and got abrasions (when skin is torn off) from it!!. I believe there was some foul play in her arrest and that's the BS they have to cover it.
5-12-2010 @ 12:34PM
Hermesbagger said...There are MANY MANY teachers, professors, admissions directors, presidents of colleges, headmasters, principals who are alcoholics. The stricter they are usually the more disabled they are by the disease. These people should be rooted out and tossed out of education- they should be separated from kids. Unloading the kids so she could grab a drink is the tip of the iceberg- ALkies are absolutely nuts- and they will lie to get what they want!!
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5-12-2010 @ 1:47PM
Anastasia Beaverhausen said...Although I respect your right to have an opinion, I think you have a problem and should seek professional help. You have no heart, or compassion...It is so sad you must think you are perfect.
5-12-2010 @ 12:41PM
S. Ferrara said...The fact she left her 3 and 4 year-old children alone is inexcusable, but a lot of information has been omitted (like what was she doing at the hotel, what time did the incident occur, etc.), I think we should reserve judgment before condemning her. Perhaps she was just going down to get a bite to eat. She obviously wasn't dressed for a night out on the town. I'm just saying to cut her some slack. To me, it sounds like she flipped out or had some sort of breakdown. Consider the school's statement that she has a "long history of excellence as a leader and educator," as well as the fact her husband is on his third deployment in Iraq. Those are facts that shouldn't be overlooked.
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5-12-2010 @ 12:48PM
MAC said...Not too worried about it. Its just Tx, they're all crazy
Reply
5-12-2010 @ 7:21PM
ANGELCEO said...WOW...