New details have emerged regarding the arrest of former Crosby Elementary School Principal Wendy Bailey, painting a disturbing picture of how a teacher with a documented history of misconduct was hired into Forney ISD. According to a recently released arrest affidavit, investigators allege that Bail...

Former Forney Elementary Principal Accused of Concealing Teacher’s Troubled Past

A Pattern of Concealment

Bailey was arrested last week and faces charges of endangering a child and failure to report child abuse. The charges stem from an ongoing multi-agency investigation into the actions of Jonathan Michael, a former special education teacher at Crosby Elementary who was previously arrested by the Texas Rangers on charges of injury to a child and child grooming.

Investigators state that the vetting process for Michael, formerly known as Michael Roell, was deeply flawed from the start. Court records reveal that in 2015, while employed by Garland ISD, Michael was accused of breaking a special education student's arm. He was also later acquitted by a Dallas County jury on a charge of indecency with a child. Furthermore, investigators noted that Michael was previously removed from a position at Dallas ISD following allegations that he watched a special education student change clothes and made sexually explicit comments.

The affidavit alleges that Bailey received Michael’s resume in August 2025 under his former name. Despite initial hesitations, phone records and emails cited by investigators suggest Bailey maintained contact with Michael. The document claims that Michael’s father told investigators his son was advised by Bailey that she could not hire him under the name Michael Roell, but that employment would be possible if he legally changed his name.

Michael filed for a legal name change shortly after that conversation. Following the change to Jonathan Michael, he reapplied to Forney ISD in September 2025 and was hired the following month.

Failure to Report Allegations

The investigation into Bailey’s conduct deepened when authorities examined how she handled reports of abuse on her own campus. In April 2026, two teacher’s aides reportedly informed Bailey that they had witnessed Michael inappropriately touching a special education student and making explicit comments.

Rather than notifying district officials or Child Protective Services, the affidavit states that Bailey opted to relocate the student and one of the aides to a different classroom. When speaking with the child’s parent, Bailey characterized the move as a measure to address general classroom behaviors rather than a response to allegations of abuse. Bailey reportedly told investigators that she believed moving the student would restore harmony and that she did not believe the reports of physical misconduct.

In addition to these allegations, Michael faces criminal charges for physically assaulting two other special education students, including claims that he pushed one child into a bookshelf and pinned another to the floor with his knee.

District Response

Forney ISD has maintained that it is cooperating fully with the investigating agencies. In a brief statement, the district noted that the matter remains an active law enforcement investigation.

Bailey has since been released on bond, and a court date has not yet been set. Jonathan Michael remains in the legal system as his criminal case continues to move forward. As the community of Forney looks for answers, the case has raised significant questions regarding the oversight and background check protocols within the district.