District 65 Dismisses Administrator Amid Child Abuse Allegations

Parents demand transparency after district fails to identify dismissed employee linked to charges

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Evanston/Skokie District 65 School Board voted unanimously to dismiss an administrator, but did not reveal the identity of the employee. This comes amid allegations that a former assistant principal, Carlos Mendez, and a paraprofessional, Maribel Flores-Hernandez, were arrested and charged with the sexual abuse of children. Parents are demanding a full investigation and accountability from the district for its lack of communication and transparency surrounding the incidents.

Why it matters

The dismissal and allegations have shaken the community, raising concerns about the district's handling of the situation and its ability to ensure student safety. Parents feel the district failed to properly communicate with families and are demanding a comprehensive investigation into the district's actions and inactions.

The details

The school board voted to dismiss an unnamed administrator at a Feb. 23 meeting, but did not identify the employee. This came after Mendez, a former assistant principal at Washington Elementary, and Flores-Hernandez, a paraprofessional at Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, were arrested and charged with the sexual abuse of children. Mendez was charged with aggravated criminal sex abuse of a child, while Flores-Hernandez was charged with sexual assault of a family member under 18. Both also have outstanding warrants in Florida for sexual assault charges.

  • On Feb. 23, the Evanston/Skokie District 65 School Board voted to dismiss an unnamed administrator.
  • On Feb. 5, Mendez and Flores-Hernandez were arrested at Mendez's home in Chicago.
  • Mendez was placed on leave from the district on Oct. 28, 2025, and Flores-Hernandez was placed on leave on Jan. 16.

The players

Carlos Mendez

A former assistant principal at Washington Elementary School in District 65, who was arrested and charged with one felony count of aggravated criminal sex abuse of a child and one misdemeanor count of domestic battery and bodily harm. Mendez also has an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida for sexual assault of a child.

Maribel Flores-Hernandez

A paraprofessional at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center in District 65, who was arrested and charged with one felony count of sexual assault of a family member under 18. Flores-Hernandez also has an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida for criminal charges related to sexual assault.

Evanston/Skokie District 65 School Board

The school board that voted unanimously to dismiss an unnamed administrator amid the allegations against Mendez and Flores-Hernandez.

Kelly McCabe

A parent of a second and fifth grader at Washington Elementary, who expressed concerns about the district's lack of communication and transparency surrounding the allegations.

Jaime Hupke

A parent of two students at Washington Elementary, who felt the school had failed to provide comfort or reassurance to families during this time.

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What they’re saying

“I cannot tell you how jarring it was to see sexual abuse mentioned in conjunction with our beloved Washington Elementary. We waited for any form of communication from the district. We received only a brief email from our principal stating that no District 65 students were involved. We were left in the dark, unsure of how to discuss this with their children.”

— Kelly McCabe, Parent of a second and fifth grader at Washington Elementary (Chicago Tribune)

“These allegations are really disturbing. It's just been awful for all the families.”

— Jaime Hupke, Parent of two students at Washington Elementary (Pioneer Press)

“Given that both Mendez and Flores-Hernandez had outstanding warrants for sexual abuse of a minor in Florida from June 2025 by the time of their arrest here in Illinois, I am very concerned that these individuals were still working with children when there was a warrant out for their arrests.”

— Sarah Forest, Parent of two children at Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center (Pioneer Press)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Wednesday, February 25 whether or not to allow Mendez and Flores-Hernandez to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for school districts to prioritize transparency, communication, and accountability when dealing with allegations of employee misconduct, in order to maintain public trust and ensure the safety of students. The Evanston/Skokie District 65 community is demanding a comprehensive investigation into the district's handling of this situation.