A former art teacher at a Northwest Independent School District elementary school has been federally indicted on two counts of possessing child pornography.
Kyle Lee Roy Francis, 24, of Denton, was charged by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas, and currently remains in custody. His iPhone contained at least three videos with child pornography, including two that depicted sexual abuse of prepubescent children, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative targeting child sexual exploitation. Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Child Exploitation Group led the investigation. If convicted, Francis faces up to 20 years in prison.
Francis taught art at Lance Thompson Elementary School from August 5, 2024, until January 14, 2026. The district learned on January 14 that he was under federal investigation and immediately obtained his resignation, officials said.
In a message to parents and faculty sent Thursday night, Principal Amy Lawson said the district had been notified by the Department of Homeland Security of the indictment.
“A standard background check conducted on all employees at the time of his hiring revealed no prior arrests or related concerns,” the district said via ParentSquare, The Cross Timbers Gazette reported.
Lawson added that school officials reported the matter to the Texas Education Agency and the Department of Family and Protective Services, as required by law. The district’s cybersecurity team performed a forensic analysis of Francis’s district-issued computer and online activity, which found no inappropriate content.
“In our communication with Homeland Security, we have received assurance that no charges or allegations relate to any Northwest ISD student,” Lawson wrote, per CBS News Texas. “Please know our school and Northwest ISD will provide Homeland Security with appropriate files and information to support its investigation. Lance Thompson Elementary School will always act in the best interests of students, and we will take immediate action when allegations of improper conduct by an employee are made.”
The district emphasized that the case does not involve any Northwest ISD students or school activities and said it will continue cooperating with federal authorities. School officials said they only learned of Francis’s arrest on Thursday.
Thompson Elementary, located in the Harvest community, opened in 2019.
In 2024, Francis was recognized by state Rep. Richard Hayes when one of his painted ornaments was featured on the Texas House Chamber Christmas Tree.
The Department of Homeland Security has released no additional information about the case.
