“Ms. Gutierrez’s administrative leave with pay has been lifted and she has been fully reinstated to her position where she will continue to perform her duties and continue to serve all UCISD families,” the release said. Uvalde Unified Independent School District Superintendent Hal Harrell thanked Gutierrez in a letter obtained by ABC News for submitting responses to the House investigative report into the May 24 mass shooting that left 19 children and two adults dead. “As a result of our review, you will be allowed to return to work,” Harrell said in the letter. The reinstatement comes a day after Gutierrez responded to criticisms leveled against her and her leadership team by the Texas House special investigative committee. Investigators search for evidence outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. A gunman fatally shot 19 children and two teachers at the school the day before, on May 24. It was more than an hour after the officers followed the 18-year-old gunman into the school and when they finally entered the fourth-grade classroom where they had hidden him, they killed him. Meanwhile, students trapped inside repeatedly called 911 and parents outside the school begged officers to come inside. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Gutierrez was fired earlier in the week by Harrell. No reason was given why Gutierrez was placed on administrative leave, but the decision came two weeks after a Texas legislative committee reported on the shooting. The report found that Gutierrez, in her first year at Robb Elementary School, was aware of safety problems, such as not properly locking a door in one of the classrooms the gunman entered, but failed to fix them. Uvalde:365 is an ongoing ABC News series reported from Uvalde that focuses on the Texas community and how it develops in the shadow of tragedy. Uvalde Schools Police Chief Pete Arredondo was placed on administrative leave without pay in June as the district considers a recommendation to fire him. Katie Conway and Josh Margolin contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
