HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A substitute teacher is under investigation after students reported “that the substitute assigned them to perform a puppet show in which at least one puppet had to be murdered,” according to the district.

Hays Consolidated Independent School District told NewsNation affiliate KXAN that the Johnson High School theater arts teacher is a long-term substitute and that they’ve been suspended pending an investigation by the campus.

The district said in a statement, “One group of students reports that their performance would have involved a mass shooting, though it is not clear if that was the specific assignment or a scene created to meet the parameters of the assignment.”

Hays CISD said if this happened, assigning or allowing this type of performance would be disturbing and unacceptable conduct.

The district said based on the investigation, the substitute could be asked not to return to its schools.

“If warranted, appropriate reports and referrals would be made to law enforcement and the Texas Education Agency educator misconduct portal,” the district said.

‘I’m shocked’

A parent, who asked us to conceal their identity, said their daughter was in that class.

The parent said their daughter was so upset that she called them immediately.

“She called me telling me that their theater teacher was telling them that they were gonna have to reenact a violent school shooting, where they had to actually pretend to die,” the parent said. “You don’t have students, 16 year-old, 17 year-old students reenact something that they’re truly afraid of.”

Allegedly the teacher told students if they didn’t do it, they would get a zero for the assignment.

The district said the teacher was hired in January 2024. Hays CISD said it is also reviewing other potential classroom management concerns.

“She has told me in the past that it’s not the first time that this particular substitute teacher does something like this,” the parent said. “There have been times other times when he wants to reenact or go through violent situations.”

The parent said they went to the school and spoke with the assistant principal after getting that call from their daughter.

“She agreed it was not okay. It was unacceptable. It was not part of the lesson plan that they ever agreed to,” the parent said. “He was not given that plan, so he did it on his own. She assured me that it was not okay.”

Ultimately, this parent was grateful for how the district responded.