Leonard High principal Jansen Trotter booked in Fannin County jail

Jansen Trotter, the principal of Leonard High School, is currently held in the Fannin County Jail.

Leonard Police arrested Trotter on October 27 and charged him with failure to report employee misconduct. The charge stems from an investigation into a student's suicide that occurred earlier this month. Trotter began his role as principal in July 2026, and the school district has placed him on administrative leave pending the outcome of the legal process.

Investigators found an audio recording of a conversation between the deceased student and Trotter. In that recording, the student told Trotter about alleged misconduct by a teacher involving multiple female students. Police said Trotter denied knowing about the conversation before investigator Billy Ivy presented the audio file to him.

Ivy stated that the student acted correctly by reporting the issues, but the system failed him. "He did know about it. Failed to report it. Failed to investigate it which constituted the offense that he was charged with," Ivy said. Leonard Police have not identified the teacher accused of the misconduct, and they have not found evidence linking the student's suicide directly to Trotter's failure to report.

Terri Bush, a local resident whose granddaughter attends Leonard High School, expressed shock over the arrest. "I think it was wrong of him not to do anything about it," Bush said. She added that she was glad authorities were taking action on the matter.

Trotter is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge on Wednesday for a bond hearing. His bond has not yet been set. The Leonard Police Department said in a statement that its investigation into the suicide and the alleged misconduct claims is ongoing. The department emphasized its commitment to professionalism, integrity, and transparency while respecting the legal process.

Leonard is located in Fannin County, approximately 62 miles north of Dallas. The arrest marks the first criminal charge filed against a Leonard ISD principal in this specific investigation. The student's family provided information to police during the initial inquiry into the death.