May 30, 2025 – On Friday, May 23, 2025, 25 year-old Abigail Brooke Killian was charged with injury to a child following an incident at Tyler ISD’s Caldwell Arts Academy. According to an arrest affidavit, Killian, a former teacher at the academy, admitted to throwing a 1-inch by 2-inch eraser at a student to gain their attention. She stated that the eraser bounced off a wall or chair before striking the student in the forehead. Killian claimed she did not intend to harm the student and apologized immediately after the incident.
Caldwell Arts Academy is the only public school in East Texas centered around the arts. It earned the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education—an honor given to only 31 schools in Texas in 2024.
However, the student reported that Killian “chunked” the eraser without warning while they were talking with another student and ignoring her request to stop. The student noted that the eraser left a spot that “feels bruised” and alleged that Killian laughed at the incident and did not apologize. A photograph reviewed by a Tyler ISD police officer showed slight bruising or discoloration on the student’s forehead.
Killian explained to officers that she typically used stress balls to get students’ attention and was unsure why she used an eraser in this instance. She was booked into the Smith County Jail on May 23 and released the same day. Tyler ISD confirmed that Killian is no longer employed by the district and emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
