Parents trust schools to be a safe place for their children, especially during fun events like holiday parties. But a shocking incident at Jones Elementary in Tyler, Texas, has left many questioning just how safe those celebrations really are.
A parent has been arrested after allegedly supplying alcoholic Jell-O shots at a Christmas party for elementary students, raising serious concerns among families and school officials.
What Happened at Jones Elementary in December 2024?
On December 20, 2024, during a classroom Christmas party, things took a troubling turn. According to a Smith County arrest affidavit, the assistant principal at Jones Elementary contacted Tyler ISD Police after suspecting that a parent had brought alcohol-laced Jell-O shots to the school.
The parent, identified as 33-year-old Teresa Bernal, was confronted by school staff. She admitted to bringing the Jell-O shots, saying she had tasted them herself and noticed they were “a bit different,” but decided to serve them to students anyway — even though she wasn’t sure if they contained alcohol.
During the party, students freely helped themselves to the Jell-O shots, with some reportedly consuming up to six. Later that day, several fifth-grade students started experiencing severe symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, vomiting, dizziness, and in one case, a student even claimed to have passed out.
The situation raised immediate red flags, and when staff sampled one of the shots, they strongly suspected it contained alcohol.
Quick Action by Staff and Police Investigation
Thanks to the quick thinking of Jones Elementary staff, Tyler ISD Police were called in right away. They questioned Ms. Bernal about where she obtained the Jell-O shots. She said she had bought them from a home-based business.
Further investigation revealed that the Jell-O shots were indeed made with Smirnoff vodka and were marketed as alcoholic. Tyler ISD Police collected five of the shots and sent them to a lab for official testing.
Lab results, received on March 6, 2025, confirmed that the Jell-O shots did contain alcohol.
Following these findings, a warrant for Teresa Bernal’s arrest was issued on April 10. She was arrested on April 21, charged with injury to a child, and later released after posting a $75,000 bond.
Community Reaction and What Happens Next
Teachers and staff who knew Ms. Bernal described her as an involved parent who often participated in school events. However, this incident has understandably shaken trust among parents and raised concerns about how classroom celebrations are handled.
Fortunately, because of the quick response from school staff, it seems no students suffered permanent harm. Still, the case against Ms. Bernal is ongoing, and many families will be watching closely to see how it unfolds.
This situation serves as a critical reminder that extra care must always be taken, especially when it comes to what is brought into schools during student events.