A primary school substitute teacher, Melissa Martin, faced charges of cocaine possession and reckless endangerment after allegedly being found under the influence of drugs while on duty at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School in Vermont. The incident prompted a police response following reports of an adult behaving erratically.
Upon police arrival, Martin reportedly confessed to having cocaine in her possession, which was subsequently discovered in her jacket and backpack during a K-9 search. Authorities seized less than 2.5g of cocaine from her. Barre Town Police Chief William Dodge emphasized the seriousness of the situation, citing the endangerment posed by a drug-impaired teacher overseeing students.
A concerned parent, identified as Brittany, revealed that her son, a student in Martin’s class, observed the teacher’s unusual behavior and suspected drug influence. According to the parent, the teacher exhibited erratic actions, including mistaking her son for a pet dog named Teddy. The school district’s superintendent, Joan Canning, commended the student for reporting the incident and assured parents of student safety following Martin’s dismissal.
Martin, who had been a permanent substitute teacher for approximately three years, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released under court conditions prohibiting her from entering school premises. Despite the unsettling events, Canning reassured parents that appropriate measures had been taken to ensure student well-being in the aftermath of the incident.