An educated and empathetic teaching aide can often be a true lifesaver in a classroom that’s chock-full of kids and a few of them need special supports and help. It’s truly unfortunate when you come across a teacher’s aide who simply should not be doing the job. Such was apparently the case in Texas when a former special education aide was arrested after being accused of exposing a 7-year-old student’s chest while making inappropriate comments during class.
A special education teaching aide was arrested after allegedly exposing a student’s chest in class.
According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, T’nae Harrell, a 36-year-old former special education teaching aide from Legacy Elementary School in Lubbock, Texas, was arrested May 7, 2026. She is accused of exposing a 7-year-old’s chest while making inappropriate comments during class, per the newspaper.
According to an affidavit from the Frenship ISD Police Department, Harrell made lewd comments about a student’s physical appearance on April 29, KCBD reported. The court record notes that she then pulled up the girl’s shirt and turned the student toward another staff member.
What a horrifying experience for this young student to go through.
It’s reported that Harrell also compared the child to a ‘porn star.’
Staff members at Legacy Elementary said Harrell commented on the student’s body before calling the child to come over so she could then lift up the girl’s shirt to expose her bare chest, the Journal reported.
When she turned the girl toward another staff member, she compared the child to a “porn star,” per the newspaper.
The affidavit for the case states that four staff members at the school saw the incident and it also was captured by a school security camera, KCBD reported. When she spoke to investigators, Harrell reportedly admitted to the crime.
The teaching aide was fired from the school after this disgusting incident.
Harrell was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a state jail felony count of voyeurism involving a child younger than 18 on school premises, the Journal reported. This felony charge carries a punishment of six months to two years in jail.
When administrators learned of the incident, they initially placed Harrell on leave. The district reported that Harrell was fired from her teaching aide job on May 7, per KCBD.
Frenship ISD issued a statement obtained by KCBD that reads in part, “Late last night, T’nae Harrell, a former Legacy Elementary special education aide, was arrested and charged with voyeurism based on a Frenship Police Department investigation. Reported behavior such as this is unacceptable and deeply concerning and goes against everything Frenship ISD stands for. Creating a safe learning environment for all students is our top priority, and we take these investigations very seriously.”
The school district is offering extra support at this time for students, parents, and staff, KCBD reported.
Our thoughts go out to the student directly involved and anyone else in that school who needs extra support and care right now.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
