A 27-year-old substitute teacher in Texas has been arrested and charged with an “improper relationship between an educator and student,” a second-degree felony, following an investigation into alleged inappropriate communications with a student, according to local authorities.

The suspect, identified as Angela Palmares, was taken into custody Wednesday by the Llano County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division. She worked as a substitute in the Llano Independent School District, which serves roughly 2,000 students in a rural area northwest of Austin.

Law enforcement officials said the investigation began after school administrators reported concerns involving alleged inappropriate communications between a staff member and a student, reportedly conducted through a social media platform outside school hours.

In a letter to families, district superintendent Mac Edwards said officials immediately removed Palmares from the district’s substitute teacher list after being notified of the allegations. He said the district referred the matter to law enforcement and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Authorities have not released details about the student involved, including age or grade level, citing privacy protections. Officials also did not disclose the content of the alleged communications.

The Llano County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Palmares is being held on a $150,000 bond while the case proceeds.

In statements, district officials emphasized that all allegations involving student safety are treated seriously and that maintaining a secure learning environment remains a priority.

The case comes amid broader concerns among education researchers and law enforcement officials about incidents of alleged misconduct involving educators and students, particularly in cases involving digital communication platforms. Experts say such cases are often difficult to detect early due to the private nature of online interactions and reporting challenges within school environments.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no court date has been announced.