Texas Education Agency Names New Inspector General as Misconduct Reports Surge

The new role aims to strengthen oversight of educator misconduct cases across the state.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Texas Education Agency has created a new Inspector General for Educator Misconduct position to oversee investigations of misconduct cases, particularly those involving sexual misconduct. The position was created after lawmakers passed Senate Bill 571 last year, which established a statewide "Do Not Hire" registry for educators found to have engaged in misconduct and requires superintendents to report alleged misconduct to the TEA within 48 hours. Educator misconduct reports have risen significantly this fiscal year, from an average of 476 to more than 1,400, with most reports submitted by superintendents.

Why it matters

The new Inspector General position is intended to strengthen oversight and accountability around educator misconduct cases in Texas, which have seen a sharp increase in recent months. This comes amid several high-profile cases of alleged misconduct by educators in the state, raising concerns about student safety and the need for more robust reporting and investigation processes.

The details

Levi Fuller was recently appointed as the TEA's new Inspector General for Educator Misconduct. In this role, he plans to refine investigative processes and focus on identifying root causes of misconduct. Fuller said increased accountability measures, such as the new "Do Not Hire" registry and 48-hour reporting requirement, are already having an impact, with more reports being submitted. However, not everyone supports the new position, with Texas AFT President Zeph Capo criticizing it as a "band-aided approach" and arguing that broader staffing shortages and lowered standards have contributed to misconduct concerns.

  • The Texas Education Agency created the new Inspector General for Educator Misconduct position in 2026.
  • Senate Bill 571, which established new reporting requirements for educator misconduct, was passed by Texas lawmakers in 2025.

The players

Levi Fuller

The newly appointed Inspector General for Educator Misconduct at the Texas Education Agency.

Zeph Capo

The president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, who criticized the new Inspector General position as a "band-aided approach" to the problem of educator misconduct.

Texas Education Agency

The state agency that has created the new Inspector General for Educator Misconduct position to strengthen oversight of misconduct cases.

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What they’re saying

“I can promise you honesty and diligence.”

— Levi Fuller, Inspector General for Educator Misconduct, Texas Education Agency (cbsnews.com)

“Using my experience in the past to refine our processes, to try to get to the root of the problem, identify it, and then fix it.”

— Levi Fuller, Inspector General for Educator Misconduct, Texas Education Agency (cbsnews.com)

“So people are taking notice that there are no more games.”

— Levi Fuller, Inspector General for Educator Misconduct, Texas Education Agency (cbsnews.com)

“This is another band-aided approach to a problem that they created in the first place.”

— Zeph Capo, President, Texas American Federation of Teachers (cbsnews.com)

“I promise you, there's a way to prevent this, and you are going to see it.”

— Levi Fuller, Inspector General for Educator Misconduct, Texas Education Agency (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Fuller said upcoming changes include posting misconduct cases online in a more accessible format and reducing investigation timelines. He said he is confident his office can manage the growing number of reports, though he acknowledged he currently has a small team and may seek to add additional positions in the future.

The takeaway

The creation of the new Inspector General for Educator Misconduct position at the Texas Education Agency reflects the state's efforts to strengthen oversight and accountability around educator misconduct cases, which have seen a significant increase in recent months. While some critics argue the move is a "band-aided approach," the new role aims to refine investigative processes, identify root causes, and prevent future incidents of misconduct in Texas schools.