Jennifer Onwuka -

Jennifer Onwuka

Associate Attorney

Biography

Jennifer Onwuka is a dedicated family law attorney who represents clients in complex
and emotionally sensitive matters, including divorce, child custody, child support, and
enforcement actions. She is known for her thoughtful approach, strong advocacy skills,
and ability to navigate high-conflict situations with clarity, strategy, and emotional
intelligence. Drawing on her background in psychology, Jennifer brings a deeper
understanding of interpersonal dynamics to her practice, an asset that allows her to
manage difficult cases with both precision and care.

Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology from Howard
University in 2016, where she developed strong communication skills alongside a
foundation in human behavior. She went on to receive her Juris Doctor from Florida
A&M University, College of Law in 2021, where she honed her litigation and client
advocacy skills.

She is licensed to practice in the State of Texas and is an active member of the Dallas
Bar Association Family Law Section and the J.L. Turner Legal Association.

Jennifer’s practice is rooted in helping clients navigate real-life challenges with
confidence and practical guidance. She has handled a wide range of family law matters
and is particularly skilled in cases that require both strategic precision and a high
degree of emotional awareness. One of her most meaningful professional
accomplishments includes successfully reuniting a father and child following the passing
of the child’s mother, securing the child’s return through contested proceedings against
maternal grandparents who had withheld the child, an experience that reflects her
commitment to achieving outcomes that have a lasting impact on her clients’ lives.

At McCathern, Jennifer focuses on delivering results-driven representation while taking
on complex and rewarding work across her practice.

Outside of her legal practice, Jennifer enjoys reading, playing chess, spending time in
nature, yoga, and being in good company.

Location

Highland Park (Dallas)

4514 Cole Avenue, Suite 1550
Dallas, TX 75205

PRACTICE AREAS

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor (2025)

B.A., Political Science with a Legal Studies Certificate (2022)

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”