“Thank you for responding to our request for information by submitting your response to the House Investigative Report. As a result of our review, you will be allowed to return to work on this date (July 28, 2022),” wrote Hal Harrell. the Superintendent of the Uvalde Unified Independent School District; “As we discussed today, by mutual agreement, you will continue to serve the District in an administrative capacity. Thank you for your assistance as we work through the transition,” Harrell wrote. CNN has reached out to the Uvalde Unified Independent School District for comment. Javier Cazares, whose daughter was killed in the mass shooting, called the principal’s return to work “a slap in the face,” referring to the victims and their parents. “Being in charge, she should have made sure the school was safe and failed in her job,” said Cazares, whose daughter Jacklyn was 9. “It will show you how Uvalde works. They will do anything to protect themselves and forget about the children,” Cazares told CNN. “No one wants to be held accountable for their actions and inactions, and that makes me sick.” Cedillo said his client was not seeking vindication. “She just sought to be allowed to continue her efforts to help the healing process of families in the community she loves,” Cedillo said Friday. “She understands and respects that the grieving process can include anger. This is a natural reaction and she respects and empathizes with all that those affected are going through. She prays for the strength to focus on the healing process which will be prolonged and likely never-ending,” she said. Cedillo. The principal’s reinstatement comes after an exclusive interview with CNN on Wednesday in which Gutierrez defended her actions during the May 24 shooting. “I feel like I followed the training I was given to the best of my ability,” she said when asked if she thought she should lose her job. “And I’ll second guess myself for the rest of my life.” During the interview, she disputed criticisms leveled at her in the Texas Commission of Inquiry report — which claimed the school had a culture of noncompliance with security policies, that improper Wi-Fi could have delayed the lockdown of the active shooter and that she failed to use the intercom system to alert the campus. Gutierrez wrote a letter to the Texas House Investigative Committee and the district on Wednesday defending her actions, saying the allegations against her were “unfair and inaccurate.” Gutierrez also stated that she followed through on her training that fateful day and wanted her job back. CNN obtained a copy of the letter from Cedillo. CNN’s Jeremy Harlan and Ray Sanchez contributed to this report.
