In a recent development, the Godley Independent School District in Texas has removed Ashley Ketcherside from her advisory role concerning age-appropriate sex education material. Ketcherside, whose past as a convicted prostitute and online escort came to light, was serving on the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) until her history was revealed.
FOX 4 in Dallas reported that Ketcherside was also actively advertising her services online under an alias. Her involvement in the SHAC, which is mandated by state law to advise on health education protocols, has raised significant questions about the effectiveness of background checks within Godley ISD and statewide.
Kayla Lain, a trustee of the Godley ISD School Board, expressed shock upon learning about Ketcherside’s background, noting her seemingly friendly and personable demeanor. Mary Lowe from Families Engaged for Effective Education voiced concerns about Ketcherside’s involvement, particularly given the nature of SHAC’s responsibilities in recommending sex education curricula.
The council, which recommends guidelines for various health education topics including sex trafficking, appointed Ketcherside based on the school board’s decision. However, after her past as a prostitute came to light through a LexisNexis search conducted by concerned parents, the district took immediate action to remove her from her roles.
Court records from Tarrant County show that Ketcherside, also known as Ashley Villalobos and Lola Brea, had been convicted of prostitution in 2012 and 2016. Despite the legal nature of escort services in Texas, the revelation of her past led to concerns about her suitability for the advisory role.
In response to the findings, Godley ISD stated that individuals with certain criminal convictions would not be knowingly allowed to work or volunteer in district positions. However, the district admitted that Ketcherside was mistakenly listed as a SHAC member and had not undergone the official approval process.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the screening processes for school volunteers and committee members, with Lowe emphasizing the need for state-level reforms. The focus of the whistleblowers’ concerns is not on prostitution itself, but rather on the oversight and background check processes within the education system. Godley ISD confirmed that every SHAC member is appointed by the school board, but in this case, an oversight led to Ketcherside’s involvement without proper vetting.