RED OAK, Texas — Gershon Caston, 38, was scheduled to begin teaching at Red Oak Middle School in just a couple of weeks. Now, he's on the verge of losing his job after he was arrested on a child sex trafficking charge.
Caston was among four people arrested by the Dallas Police Department last week in connection to the alleged sex trafficking of a child.
The 38-year-old, who has taught at several school districts around North Texas, was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, trafficking of a child and compelling prostitution under 18.
According to arrest affidavits, the victim was taken to Caston's home, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her multiple times, gave her drugs and alcohol and forced her to engage in commercial sex.
Caston had been recently hired by Red Oak ISD in Ellis County to start teaching and coaching in the fall of 2023. Records from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) revealed that from 2014 to 2023 the 38-year-old had taught at Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Garland, Irving and Lancaster independent school districts.
Duncanville ISD confirmed Caston worked in the district prior to being hired by Red Oak ISD from August 2022 to May 2023. He was also previously a substitute teacher in Duncanville from Nov. 26, 2021 to June 30m 2014, school officials said.
The district said Caston had been placed on paid administrative leave for “alleged inappropriate behavior/communication” and ended the year on leave. The district did not recommend him to return for the upcoming school year.
Red Oak ISD confirmed Caston "assisted some" strength and conditioning camps this summer but that he has not worked at other schools in the district.
The district said he "met the hiring criteria when the process happened in May before this incident."
Duncanville ISD said it has no record of a reference check for Caston from Red Oak ISD.
But Red Oak ISD said that's not the case. The district told WFAA that it has confirmation of two Duncanville ISD reference checks for Caston.
One was completed on May 10, 2023 by a Duncanville High School assistant principal, who was Caston's supervisor at the campus. Red Oak ISD said the assistant gave Caston "a glowing review and stated she would hire him again." The second was also completed on May 10, according to Red Oak ISD, by a special education teacher with a leadership role at Duncanville High School. The district said that person also gave Caston "high remarks."
Red Oak ISD told WFAA that in Caston's application, he said he had never been terminated, forced to resign or not recommended for rehire. Caston reportedly told Red Oak that he left Duncanville ISD due to "position cancellation."
Whenever a district is in the process of completing an employee investigation and places an employee on leave, they are required to report to the State Board of Educator Certification so that the employee's certification may be flagged, according to Red Oak ISD.
"Mr. Caston has no flags on his certification as of May 11, 2023, when he was recommended for hire, or July 24, 2023, prior to the ROISD Board Meeting to take action towards termination. In addition, he was not listed on the TEA Do Not Hire registry for any prior misconduct," Red Oak ISD said in a statement to WFAA.
Caston was initially placed on leave, but the Red Oak school board on Monday approved of suspending him without pay. The board also approved sending Caston a letter of proposed termination.