Kayla Nicole O'Dell

A former Kilgore ISD instructional aide was arrested this week on suspicion of having an improper relationship with a student, according to police and court records obtained from Gregg County.

An arrest report from Gregg County Sheriff’s Office states Kayla Nicole O’Dell, 34, of Gladewater was taken into custody at 1:54 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The report states O’Dell was booked into the North Jail in Longview following her arrest on a warrant for a charge of improper relationship between educator/student, a second degree felony offense in the state of Texas, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

According to Gregg County Jail bond records, O’Dell posted a $20,000 surety bond to be released on Thursday, Feb. 20 through American Bail Bonds.

According to KISD, O’Dell began working as an instructional aide at the district in late 2023 and resigned last month. Information from her LinkedIn profile indicates she worked as a medical secretary at a business in Gladewater in August 2023 before being hired by the school district.

Arrest records from the county also indicate O’Dell was arrested and convicted on a Class B misdemeanor charge of theft involving stolen property valued greater than $50 but less than $500. These records indicate she was sentenced to probation and released in 2014.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available and when the district provides a response or statement.