East Texas teacher reinstated after being put on leave for posting on TikTok about threat

A Waskom ISD middle school teacher was reinstated after a meeting with the school district Wednesday morning.

Patrick Durbin attended a meeting Feb. 1, with Waskom Middle School principal, Bonita Cherry, Waskom ISD superintendent, Rae Ann Patty and district council, Mike Lessor.

During this meeting, Durbin described the events of Jan. 18.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Patrick Durbin reported a possible threat made by a student. Following that report, he was placed on administrative leave.

According to Durbin, around 2:30 p.m. that day, two students told him that another student had threatened to shoot him.

Read: East Texas teacher on leave after reporting threats, speaking out on TikTok to meet with admin

Durbin, who teaches sixth-grade social studies and coaches football, basketball and track, took to social media after he says the administration did not handle the situation with any urgency or concern.

Durbin told the Shreveport Times that on Tuesday, Jan. 31 he was requested by Waskom ISD superintendent, Rae Ann Patty, to come to a meeting Feb. 1, and she suggested that if he has legal representation he bring that person as well.

As of Tuesday evening, Durbin did not know who else was going to be in attendance or what exactly the meeting was about.

Durbin was unable to raise enough money to hire a lawyer and went into the meeting without council.

Around 4:15 p.m. Feb. 1, Durbin received a call from Patty stating that he could come back to work on Feb. 6.

More: East Texas teacher, coach placed on administrative leave after reporting threats

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: East Texas teacher reinstated after being put on administrative leave