Ex-Teacher, Accused Of Being Drunk In Class, Could Return To Teaching

PASCO COUNTY, Fla.—A middle-school teacher who was accused of being drunk in her classroom in March has reached a proposed settlement with the Florida Department of Education that would allow her to return to teaching in four years.

The agreement still must be approved by the Florida Education Practices Commission.

Kylene Nelson’s case drew widespread publicity after students used cell phones to photograph and videotape her dancing in her language arts classroom at Rushe Middle School on March 18.

Nelson, 43, was later taken into protective custody under the state’s Baker Act. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.26 and she tested positive for marijuana, according to a DOE administrative complaint.

She resigned from her job a week later, and the Pasco County School Board officially accepted the resignation April 21.

Under the proposed agreement with the state, Nelson’s Florida teaching certification would be suspended until June 30, 2013, and she would have to undergo substance-abuse counseling.

After that, she would be eligible to teach again but would be on probation the first three years if she gets a job.

Nelson was assigned to Rushe Middle in August 2007 because she had been accused of being drunk at work before and couldn’t return to her old school.

According to her personnel records, on Oct. 26, 2006, after Nelson didn’t show up for her third-period class at Seven Springs Middle in New Port Richey, two assistant principals found her asleep in her car in the faculty parking lot.

Nelson had difficulty standing and walking, had slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and had wine in the car, records said.

In a letter to Nelson dated Nov. 8, 2006, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said she had considered recommending the school board fire Nelson but decided to give her another chance.

Fiorentino’s decision was conditional. Nelson had to take a leave of absence for the remainder of the 2006-07 school year and enter and complete a substance-abuse program.

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