Amid Negative Attention, Irvin High School Spirits High For Football Game

It shocked students, teachers and staff, but everyone at Irvin High School is trying to move forward following the arrest of dance teacher Marco Alferez.

Alferez is accused of owning and filming his own child pornography.

Friday night was the first football game since the details of Alferez’s arrest were made public.

Although the school has unintentionally received negetive attention, Friday night was all about football and healing.

“What do we eat? Eagles! How do we eat them? Raw!” cheerleaders shouted from the sidelines.

With smiles on their faces, the cheer team kept spirits high.

On the field, the players kept their eyes on the ball.

Slowly, the healing process has begun for the Irvin High School family.

“The way things are going – everybody’s happy and enjoying themselves – it means people are moving on with their lives even though bad things have happened,” said Jeff Greene, who lives near the school.

It’s been a little more than a week since the school’s dance teacher was accused of having and making child pornography and sexually assaulting one girl.

According to court documents, Alferez has admitted to owning child porn.

“If he really did it, he should pay for everything he did,” said Lucia Ruiz, an Irvin High School alumna.

Since Thursday, investigators have been interviewing students at the school.

One day later, fans filled the stands as the school tried to keep a positive out look.

“Kids should be kids and that’s all that counts,” said Ruiz.

District officials have said they are fully cooperating with authorities on this case.

ICE agents said any concerned parents who feel their child may have been victimized to call 915-231-3364.