PHOENIX, Ariz. — A week after the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Michael Montoya II at Maryvale High School, a former teacher has come forward with troubling allegations that school administrators attempted to downplay the incident and conceal details from students and parents.
Theresa Pulido, who previously taught within the Phoenix Union High School District and most recently at Metro Tech High School, said she left her position due to growing safety concerns on campus. In an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM, Pulido accused district leaders of prioritizing image over student safety.
Allegations of Cover-Up
Pulido claims administrators initially attempted to mislead the public by saying the murder weapon was a pair of scissors rather than a folding pocketknife. “They were pushing the scissor narrative because they did not want it to come out that there was a knife on our campus,” Pulido said.
Montoya was fatally stabbed inside a classroom on August 21. Police arrested another 16-year-old student, identified as Chris Aguilar, who has since been charged in connection with Montoya’s death.
Pulido further alleged that administrators called in students who witnessed the stabbing to provide statements — without legal representation or parental involvement. “They essentially watched a murder happen,” she said. “They were trying to coerce students into a narrative that would benefit the district.”
Questions Over Security Measures
The former teacher also raised questions about the school’s security practices, saying officials instructed staff to lower the sensitivity of metal detectors on campus to reduce wait times.
“They were told to lower the sensitivity so the lines could go faster,” Pulido claimed. “Unless you had a machete there, that was not going to go off. It was very easy to get that knife onto campus.”
Pattern of Safety Concerns
Pulido said this was not the first time she witnessed safety issues being brushed aside. She recounted a 2024 incident where two guns were reportedly brought onto a district campus. Despite the serious threat, she said administrators chose not to immediately call for a lockdown.
“For over two hours, with passing periods and students moving freely, there was no lockdown until right before dismissal,” she said. Pulido said her concerns about that situation led to her being placed on administrative leave.
Ongoing Fears in the Community
Montoya’s death has left students, parents, and teachers deeply shaken. Pulido said she continues to hear from families who do not feel safe sending their children to school.
“I’ve still been getting calls from parents and students who do not feel safe,” she said. “When the stabbing happened, I found out instantaneously from a parent whose student was in that classroom.”
Read our full tribute to Michael Montoya II here.
District Response
The Phoenix Union High School District has not directly responded to Pulido’s allegations but has said in prior statements that it is working closely with law enforcement and reviewing security protocols across its campuses.
Montoya’s killing has also sparked community events and benefit fundraisers to support his family as they grieve the loss of a promising young life.