On Oct. 20, former Texas Middle School art teacher Jason Delezen was booked into Dallas County Jail. Texarkana ISD Police arrested Delezen in Richardson, Texas for an improper relationship with a TISD student that occurred in 2019. He taught at TISD from August 2016 to June 2019. 

“During his time at TISD, there were no reported incidents,” TISD Director of Communications Todd Marshall said. “We have gone back to verify, and there is no documentation of a report.”

One parent claims she reported Delezen in 2016 because of an inappropriate social media interaction. 

“Mr. Delezen followed my daughter on Instagram,” senior parent Melanie Cook said. “It seemed a little odd, but I became much more uncomfortable when I saw his Instagram posts. He had pictures of artwork, some of which were nudes. That would be fine, but not on an account that students were invited to follow.” 

Cook immediately took her concerns and spoke with an administrator.

“I shared with someone, who l cannot remember, that I thought it was improper, and the account was private soon after,” Cook said. 

Now the investigation is in the hands of TISD Police.

“TISD Police Department is investigating the alleged incident. No additional information is available,” Marshall said.

Richardson High School learned of the Texarkana investigation on Oct. 18. Delezen was immediately placed on leave by RISD.

“This news is certainly troubling and disappointing, and we are cooperating with the investigation to the fullest extent possible,” Richardson officials said.

Richardson ISD asks students if they ever had inappropriate experiences with Delezen and to report any incidents to school officials. 

Delezen transferred from Dallas County Jail to Bi-State Detention Center on Oct. 25. Delezen paid 10% of his $50,000 bond and was released from Bi-State on Oct. 26. So far, no other information has been released.

“Student safety is our number one priority, and we encourage all students to report concerns they have to a trusted adult,” Marshall said.