Former teacher says Phoenix district concealed safety issues before deadly school stabbing

PHOENIX — A week after a deadly stabbing at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, a former teacher with the school’s district said the rise in violence was the reason she left the job.

Theresa Pulido worked at various campuses within the Phoenix Union High School District, most recently at Metro Tech High School.

She accused Maryvale High School administrators of trying to obfuscate details about the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Michael Montoya II. Another 16-year-old, Chris Aguilar, was arrested and charged in connection with Montoya’s death.

“They did not want it to come out that there was a knife on our campus,” Pulido told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Tuesday.

Did Maryvale High School administrators mislead students after deadly stabbing?

Although she’s no longer with the district, she said sources told her that administrators allegedly called in students who were in the classroom during the stabbing to provide statements — but the kids weren’t given legal representation.

“That took away their rights because, essentially, this was a crime scene,” Pulido said. “They essentially watched a murder happen. There was no parental involvement at that point. There was no legal representation. They were trying to coerce students into a narrative that would benefit the district.”

She accused Maryvale High School administrators of trying to claim the murder weapon was a pair of scissors rather than a pocket knife.

“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.

Prior to the stabbing, administrators allegedly told security officials to change the settings of metal detectors at the campus, she added.

“They were told to lower the sensitivity so the lines could go faster, so, essentially, unless you had a machete there, that was not going to go off,” Pulido said. “It was very easy to get that knife onto campus.”

Former teacher with Phoenix Union High School District on violence

Pulido said dangerous incidents are far from rare, and, in fact, a similar situation last year was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“In September of 2024, there were two guns on our campuses,” Pulido said.

Administration allegedly knew about it, but didn’t call for a lockdown because they didn’t want to alert parents, she added.

“They were trying to get the weapons without people knowing, so, for over two hours — with passing periods, with … restroom breaks, teachers, students going to and from classes — there was no lockdown until right before the school got out,” Pulido said.

After school, teachers and administration met to discuss the situation. She said she asked a police officer at the meeting about the proper protocol, which is to lock the school down and then shelter in place.

“I was put on an administrative leave when I complained about the guns on campus and the lack of parental information and the lack of a lockdown,” Pulido said.

“I’ve still been getting calls from parents and students who do not feel safe and are giving me information. When the stabbing happened, I found out instantaneously from a parent whose student was in that classroom.”

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