DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Independent School District has agreed to a $1 million civil settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve allegations that it failed to properly report sexual misconduct allegations against a former special education teacher while falsely certifying compliance with state laws to receive federal education funding.
The settlement, announced by U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas, includes a $145,000 penalty and $855,000 dedicated to districtwide reforms aimed at improving child abuse reporting, law enforcement coordination and employee training.
Federal authorities allege Dallas ISD mishandled four investigations involving former teacher Michael Roell, also known as Johnathan Michael, between 2022 and 2024.
Despite allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors, the district allegedly failed to notify the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), allowing Roell to resign in April 2024 without the concerns being reported through the state's educator oversight system.
Roell subsequently worked at other North Texas school districts, including Plano ISD and Forney ISD, where he was later arrested on child abuse and grooming charges.
Federal Investigation Finds Failures in Reporting Teacher Misconduct
According to the Justice Department, Dallas ISD certified between 2022 and 2024 that it was complying with applicable state laws governing educator misconduct reporting while receiving federal special education funds.
Federal investigators contend those certifications were inaccurate.
During that period, the district opened four separate investigations into allegations that Roell had engaged in sexual misconduct involving minors.
The allegations reportedly came from multiple sources, including an anonymous complainant, a parent and school administrators.
Under Texas law, certain evidence of educator misconduct triggers mandatory reporting requirements to the State Board for Educator Certification.
However, federal authorities allege Dallas ISD failed to make the required reports.
Instead, the district handled the allegations through its internal Title IX investigative process and determined they were unfounded.
According to the Justice Department, Dallas ISD improperly relied on the higher evidentiary standard used in its Title IX process rather than the separate reporting requirements established under Texas law.
Federal prosecutors maintain that a Title IX finding of insufficient evidence did not eliminate the district's obligation to report qualifying allegations to state education authorities.
Teacher Allowed to Resign, Placed on Internal Do Not Hire List
The federal investigation also examined how Dallas ISD handled Roell's departure from the district.
According to the Justice Department, Roell was allowed to resign in lieu of termination in April 2024.
Rather than notifying the State Board for Educator Certification of the allegations, the district placed Roell on an internal "Do Not Hire" list.
Federal authorities say that restriction applied only within Dallas ISD and did not alert other Texas school districts to the misconduct concerns.
Investigators also found that allegations of past abuse were handled internally instead of being referred directly to municipal law enforcement.
After leaving Dallas ISD, Roell obtained teaching positions with Plano ISD and Forney ISD.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple child abuse and child grooming offenses.
In September 2026, a federal grand jury also indicted Roell on wire fraud charges related to alleged misrepresentations used to obtain his teaching position.
Those criminal allegations are separate from the civil settlement involving Dallas ISD. Roell is presumed innocent of the criminal charges unless proven guilty in court.
$1 Million Settlement Includes Penalty and School Safety Reforms
Under the agreement, Dallas ISD will allocate the $1 million settlement as follows:
| Settlement Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Civil penalty | $145,000 |
| Districtwide compliance and safety reforms | $855,000 |
| Total | $1,000,000 |
The $855,000 reform component is intended to fund improvements in reporting procedures, staff training, audits and coordination with law enforcement.
The settlement also requires the district to implement multi-year compliance measures addressing Texas Education Code Chapter 22A.
The Justice Department described the agreement as a means of strengthening accountability and preventing similar failures in the future.
Dallas ISD Required to Review Sexual Misconduct Allegations Dating Back to 2022
As part of the settlement, Dallas ISD must implement several districtwide changes.
The requirements include:
-
Law enforcement agreements: Pursue formal memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement agencies and the Texas Rangers to clarify responsibilities, reporting timelines and procedures.
-
Expanded disclosure forms: Adopt Civil Liability Disclosure Forms for applicants, contractors, substitute teachers and volunteers.
-
Mandatory reporting notices: Post signage explaining child abuse reporting obligations.
-
Administrator checklists: Implement detailed Child Abuse Reporting Requirements checklists to help administrators comply with state law.
-
Annual employee training: Require yearly training for Title IX decisionmakers, human resources personnel and investigative staff on educator misconduct reporting requirements.
-
Compliance audits: Conduct regular audits and maintain documentation showing personnel have completed required training.
-
Review of past allegations: Reexamine every sexual misconduct allegation dating back to 2022 and provide the findings to the Texas Education Agency.
The review of previous allegations could identify additional cases requiring attention under state reporting requirements.
The Justice Department did not specify how many historical allegations will be included in the review.
Settlement Part of Federal Project Safe Schools Initiative
The Dallas ISD settlement is the second civil enforcement action announced under Project Safe Schools, an initiative launched by U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould in August 2026.
The initiative focuses on student protection, compliance with mandatory reporting laws and accountability in North Texas public school districts.
Raybould said the settlement is intended to send a message to school districts receiving federal funds.
"Let this be a warning to every district in the Northern District of Texas," Raybould said.
"If you take federal funds and ignore state reporting laws; If you allow an accused educator to resign quietly instead of alerting the proper authorities; We will discover it and we will act without hesitation."
Raybould added that the federal initiative seeks to prevent districts from relying on internal administrative procedures when state reporting obligations apply.
"This agreement forces fundamental change, because student safety must always come before institutional convenience," he said.
Federal Civil Case Handled by Northern District of Texas
The civil enforcement matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Javan Porter of the Northern District of Texas.
The settlement resolves the federal government's civil allegations concerning Dallas ISD's compliance certifications and reporting practices. It does not, by itself, constitute a criminal conviction or establish that every underlying allegation against the former teacher was proven.
