Leander ISD assistant principal arrested for DWI

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - A Leander ISD assistant principal has been arrested for driving while intoxicated.

What we know:

Marta Johnson has been charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content greater than or equal to 0.15%, a Class A misdemeanor.

In Texas, the legal limit for alcohol is 0.08% and Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000.

Williamson County court records show Johnson was arrested by the Cedar Park Police Department on Monday, April 28.

Johnson has since bonded out.

What happened on April 28?

What we know:

A letter from Reed Elementary principal Cynthia Griggs to families said there had been a motor vehicle crash in front of the school on the morning of April 28.

After the crash, the driver of the vehicle, identified only as a Reed staff member in the letter, was placed on administrative leave pending investigations by the district and law enforcement.

Griggs said that due to this being a personnel and law enforcement situation, she could not offer any additional details to families.

An arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 7 Austin provided more details on the crash.

The affidavit says that a Cedar Park police officer was dispatched to the school at around 7:20 a.m. to respond to a crash between a car and a bicyclist. Someone reported the bicyclist appeared to have a broken arm.

When the officer arrived, they found the bicyclist lying on the ground with "what appeared to be road rash on his arms" and actively bleeding from his hands. The driver of the car, later identified as Johnson by police, was still sitting in the driver's seat and "it appeared she did not want to get out to check on" the bicyclist, the affidavit reads.

The officer also said he observed Johnson "acting strangely" and not wanting to speak in detail to law enforcement. The officer stated that he later found out she had said she had been on her phone and not paying attention at the time of the crash.

The officer was then called in to assist with a DWI investigation as another officer believed Johnson showed signs of impairment and had been told by school staff she was acting erratic.

The officer observed Johnson having bloodshot and glassy eyes, and when she got out of her vehicle, she allegedly was not able to maintain her balance, the affidavit reads. The officer also said he could smell alcohol on her breath.

Johnson told police she was coming from her Leander home at the time of the crash and had two White Claws around 10 p.m. the night before, but nothing else. She also told police she had not taken any medications or narcotics, the affidavit says.

Johnson then failed the field sobriety tests administered and her breath specimen showed she had a BAC of 0.282, says the affidavit.

Who is Marta Johnson?

The backstory:

Johnson has been assistant principal at Leander ISD's Reed Elementary since July 2021.

Before becoming assistant principal, Johnson was a dual language teacher, reading specialist and instructional coach, says a post from Reed Elementary's Facebook page.

Parent reaction to the crash, arrest

What they're saying:

"It was more of a surprise to find out really, a shocking surprise, almost disbelief, honestly, to figure out that that was even possible at seven in the morning on a Monday," parent Matthew Brennan said.

"It appeared that the vehicle had traveled off the road, which is a very low speed road, you couldn't drive more than five or 10 miles per hour on it if you wanted to, and cleared the curb, done some damage to the vehicle, and I saw a person, my daughter and I, saw a person on the ground in front of the vehicle receiving medical attention, just beginning to receive medical attention at that point," Brennan added.

Other incidents at Reed Elementary

Dig deeper:

Just last week, another incident happened at Reed Elementary. In a letter to parents, the principal said a student brought a toy gun to school.

"So that happened on Wednesday and then with my daughter being reluctant to even go to school, seeing the lights on Monday morning made things just that much worse," Brennan said.

The principal said they took immediate action on Wednesday and the staff is working to make needed updates to their practices to maintain a safe learning environment. Brennan said more needs to be done.

"The interpretation of the code is more, I suppose, favoring the allowing, enabling a bit of difficult repetitive behaviors in the classroom that are disruptive, in some cases dangerous," Brennan said.

Leander ISD's response to criticism

What they're saying:

After FOX 7 Austin asked Leander ISD for a comment after parents criticized their handling of the situation, Reed Elementary School’s principal sent a new message to parents:

Dear Reed Elementary Families,

I want to provide you with an important update regarding the situation reported on April 23 involving a student bringing what appeared to be a weapon to campus.

At the time of our initial communication, we shared the facts as we knew them, including that the item found was a toy gun. Since then, we have received confirmation from the Cedar Park Police Department that the item in question was specifically an airsoft gun.

Please know that our intent was never to downplay the seriousness of the situation. Safety is always our top priority, and we follow established safety protocols to investigate and respond to any potential threat thoroughly. This includes immediate contact with law enforcement, which we did in this case.

Upon receiving the report of the weapon, we were immediately able to separate the student from their belongings. Because the situation was secure and the airsoft gun in question was discovered, there was no immediate threat to the campus and no need to call for a lockdown or one of our other standard response protocols.

As a continuous improvement school district, we are committed to always looking for ways to refine our processes, and we will treat this situation no differently.

We also want to reaffirm that we handle all disciplinary matters in alignment with the Leander ISD Student & Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct. While we cannot share specific details related to individual student discipline, appropriate actions are being taken.

We understand that students learn best when they feel safe and supported. If you or your student have any concerns, questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping Reed Elementary a safe place for all students to grow and thrive.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Griggs
Principal
Reed Elementary School

Crestina Hardie, Leander ISD Chief Communications Officer, also provided the following statement to FOX 7 Austin:

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority. Leander ISD and the Reed Elementary community care deeply about the welfare of the parent who was injured. We remain committed to supporting all of our students and families as we move forward from this incident. 

We are aware of community concerns following recent incidents that have created tension for our families. Trust is not given lightly — it is earned through consistent action, clear communication, and shared values. As a district, we are committed to listening closely, responding transparently, and taking meaningful steps that reflect our dedication to the safety, support, and respect of every member of our school community.

Crime and Public SafetyLeanderCedar Park