Nationwide — Kayla Nicole O’Dell, a 34-year-old teacher from Kilgore, Texas, who is White, will not be required to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to having an inappropriate relationship with a student. She was given probation instead of prison time because the student was 17 or older and she had no previous criminal record.
O’Dell was sentenced to 10 years of probation during a court hearing on Tuesday, according to WFLX. If she violates any terms of her probation, she could face a prison sentence of two to 20 years.
Records show that O’Dell began working for Kilgore Independent School District in August 2023. She resigned in January 2025, shortly after district officials launched an investigation into possible misconduct involving her and a student.
The following month, O’Dell was arrested. The case drew local attention in East Texas, with Kilgore ISD confirming it cooperated fully with police throughout the investigation.
As part of her sentence, O’Dell permanently lost her teaching license and was ordered to pay $1,000 in court fees.
Kilgore ISD has since reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on educator misconduct and said it remains committed to ensuring student safety.