Superintendent faces charges for using her insurance to help sick student — and the internet's backing her

An Indiana school superintendent was charged with fraud in 2019 after using her own insurance to help an uninsured student receive medical care. Casey Smitherman, superintendent of Elwood Community Schools, was arrested and charged with insurance fraud, identity deception and official misconduct, as per USA Today. The charges came after she admitted to taking a 15-year-old student to a medical clinic and passing him off as her son to get treatment for a sore throat. According to court documents, the student had missed school on January 9, prompting Smitherman to visit his home.

Smitherman said she could tell he had symptoms of strep throat. After a clinic refused treatment because the boy lacked insurance, she took him to another and used her son's name at check-in. Also, she had a prescription for Amoxicillin filled under her son's name. The total insurance claim came to $233. Smitherman later told police that she had helped the student before by buying him clothes and cleaning his home. She said she chose not to involve the Department of Child Services because she feared the boy might be placed in foster care. In her statement shared by Fox 59, she said, "I knew he did not have insurance, and I wanted to do all I could to help him get well. I know this action was wrong. In the moment, my only concern was for this child's health."

She turned herself into Elwood police the following week and was released on bail. Prosecutors confirmed that she was eligible for a diversion program, meaning the charges would be dismissed if she avoided arrest for one year. While speaking to CBS Mornings, Smitherman said, "I was scared because I'm a rule follower, and I had never done something like that." She added, "I wish that I could redo it and do it differently, but at the time, I was worried about him and thinking about his health care." When asked what made her come forward, she said, "He shared the story with a teacher, and I knew it was important that I just tell the truth. So, I called the police and told the truth."

Asked if the decision weighed on her, she answered, "Yes, completely." Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings acknowledged her intent but said, "Probably not the best example to set for young people to assume other identities and make false statements." He later added, "I think there have to be some consequences, but they shouldn't be career-jeopardizing." The student reportedly tore the label off the prescription bottle because he "knew it was wrong" and "to have a prescription in his possession with a different name is bad," according to court records.

At the time, 78% of students in the district qualified for free or reduced lunch. Smitherman said educators in the community often stepped in to support students in need. She said, "It's a teacher thing. Overwhelmingly, the calls that I've received in the last day have been from other school teachers, and I've heard from Seattle to New Jersey, and it's been—I recognize this, I've felt that way myself I've helped kids myself." The Elwood school board publicly backed her, releasing a statement that said, "She made an unfortunate mistake, but we understand that it was out of concern for this child's welfare. We know she understands what she did was wrong, but she continues to have our support."