Hindt, accuser both back private meeting

Katy superintendent, Dr. Lance Hindt greets a child as he was surrounded by members of the Katy community who have organized a support circle and rally before the Katy ISD Board of Trustees Work Study Meeting, Monday, April 16, 2018, in Katy. Based on the book The Circle Maker by Pastor Mark Batterson, this event seeks to uplift Dr. Hindt through the power of positivity. Participants will stand shoulder to shoulder to form a circle around Dr. Hindt to show their support of his leadership. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) less Katy superintendent, Dr. Lance Hindt greets a child as he was surrounded by members of the Katy community who have organized a support circle and rally before the Katy ISD Board of Trustees Work Study Meeting, ... more Photo: Karen Warren, Staff / Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Staff / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Hindt, accuser both back private meeting 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Katy Independent School District’s embattled superintendent and the man who accused him of being his junior high tormentor decades ago both say a private one-on-one meeting would be a good idea.

“I just hope at some point that we can sit down - and not in a big, public forum,” Katy ISD Superintendent Lance Hindt said last week while surrounded by dozens of backers following a rally in his support outside the Katy ISD headquarters.

Greg Gay, who dramatically leveled the charge against Hindt during a March 19 Katy ISD board meeting, said he would be happy to meet with his former classmate at West Memorial Junior High who now leads the school district both call home.

“I think it would be great. This is the first I’m hearing about it,” Gay said.

Gay said the abuse he suffered at his classmate’s hands caused him to contemplate suicide. He even took to sometimes adopting his mother’s maiden name: Barrett. But since then, Gay has forgiven Hindt for what happened.

“I didn’t come there to attack,” him, Gay said. “I came to put light on a dark subject. We’re still having this problem in the school district.”

Hindt said he’s like to speak with Gay and “piece together a timeline” of what actually happened that day.

“I was only in the building with this individual for less than four months,” Hindt said. “I was a brand new kid.”

Gay claimed Hindt shoved his head into a urinal during one incident, causing his lip to bleed. He said no one was on his side back then - including the teachers and coaching staff at his school. He decided to come forward with the allegations to support other Katy ISD students who might be in the same situation today.

“I do not want (Hindt) to lose his job. He’s the perfect man to fix it,” Gay said. “He knows the loopholes that need to be closed.”

About 150 people - most of whom seemed to be Katy ISD employees - gathered in a show of support for Hindt before the start of the April 16 Katy ISD Board of Trustees work study session. Hindt has denied attacking - or even remembering - Gay more than 35 years ago in a boy’s bathroom.

Debbie Ellis, a first grade teacher at Katy ISD’s Bryant Elementary, organized the rally for Hindt.

“We’ve seen our superintendent come under a lot of scrutiny, (and) a lot of false accusations,” Ellis said. “It hurts when people continue to blame you for things that are not true.”

The crowd broke out into applause when Hindt stepped outside the Katy ISD administration building. He seemed visibly moved but said he wasn’t surprised when he saw the crowd waiting for him.

“I know this community. I grew up here,” Hindt said. “I also believe that through controversy comes togetherness. That’s what you’re seeing here today.”

Ellis said the pro-Hindt rally was not directed by anyone in a leadership position at Katy ISD.

“We want to build a circle around him so he can see how much people care for him,” Ellis said.

Hindt became the focus of criticism when a video of the school board meeting surfaced that some people said showed him laughing and smiling at the accusation. The video and the story quickly gained national and international attention. The next day, he issued a statement saying the accusation he was making light of the situation simply wasn’t true. Hindt insisted his reaction to Gay’s comments were one of shock rather than insensitivity or intentional disrespect.

George Espinoza, who works in the Katy ISD communications department, was heading home when he saw the crowd forming in support of Hindt. Whatever the superintendent might have done as a teenager, he has made up for as an adult and respected educator, he said.

“Everybody deserves a second chance to become better,” Espinoza said. “It’s better to have learned early like he did than not at all.”

mike.glenn@chron.com