Two weeks ago it was 27 year-old Deanna Higgins. On Saturday it was her colleague, 33 year-old Matthew Tillman: Two spring high school teachers arrested over the past month and charged for allegedly having sexual relations with students.
"It seems really bizarre to me," said Jeffrey Hartman, who lives right next door to the Tillmans. "I would never think that of him because he was always such a nice guy. His wife Sandy is real nice."
Hartman had just returned from a short vacation Sunday and wasn't even aware his neighbor's in jail. He said his heart goes out to Tillman's wife, who's also a teacher.
"I feel sorry for her with the two young children," said Hartman. "They have one little boy. I guess he's about three now... They just had a baby two months ago... Two or three months ago and it was another little boy."
During that time Tillman, a history teacher and girls' volleyball coach for the past decade, allegedly sent inappropriate text messages and had physical contact with a 17 year-old girl.
In a letter to parents, Principal Donna Ulrich said: "It is distressing to say the least that another teacher has broken the trust that parents and the greater community should be able to expect from every educator."
"It's crazy; it's disgusting; it's just gross," said Kandi Anderson, another of the Tillman's neighbors who's also a teacher from another district. She made sure her trick-or-treaters avoided the Tillman's' home Halloween night.
"We passed by there," said Anderson. "The lights were off so we passed right by it, but we made sure we had all the kids in our view."
Many local residents are alarmed about the growing number of Spring ISD teachers accused of having sex with students.
"That should not go on whatsoever," said Hartman. "I think they should get the ultimate punishment."
They're demanding the district tighten their screening process.
"I think they really need to get down deep before they do some hiring," said Hartman.
"It's the individuals," said Anderson. "So you can't really judge the district. They're doing their criminal background checks. They are doing what they can to prevent itÂ… I really don't know there's much that they can do when they are hiring, but the principals and teachers just need to keep a closer eye on who you're working with."
As students return to school on Monday, Tillman is scheduled to appear before a judge.
"It seems really bizarre to me," said Jeffrey Hartman, who lives right next door to the Tillmans. "I would never think that of him because he was always such a nice guy. His wife Sandy is real nice."
Hartman had just returned from a short vacation Sunday and wasn't even aware his neighbor's in jail. He said his heart goes out to Tillman's wife, who's also a teacher.
"I feel sorry for her with the two young children," said Hartman. "They have one little boy. I guess he's about three now... They just had a baby two months ago... Two or three months ago and it was another little boy."
During that time Tillman, a history teacher and girls' volleyball coach for the past decade, allegedly sent inappropriate text messages and had physical contact with a 17 year-old girl.
In a letter to parents, Principal Donna Ulrich said: "It is distressing to say the least that another teacher has broken the trust that parents and the greater community should be able to expect from every educator."
"It's crazy; it's disgusting; it's just gross," said Kandi Anderson, another of the Tillman's neighbors who's also a teacher from another district. She made sure her trick-or-treaters avoided the Tillman's' home Halloween night.
"We passed by there," said Anderson. "The lights were off so we passed right by it, but we made sure we had all the kids in our view."
Many local residents are alarmed about the growing number of Spring ISD teachers accused of having sex with students.
"That should not go on whatsoever," said Hartman. "I think they should get the ultimate punishment."
They're demanding the district tighten their screening process.
"I think they really need to get down deep before they do some hiring," said Hartman.
"It's the individuals," said Anderson. "So you can't really judge the district. They're doing their criminal background checks. They are doing what they can to prevent itÂ… I really don't know there's much that they can do when they are hiring, but the principals and teachers just need to keep a closer eye on who you're working with."
As students return to school on Monday, Tillman is scheduled to appear before a judge.
