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District Finishing Interviews About Teacher's Suspected Drunkenness

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2009

LAND O’ LAKES - Pasco County School District officials were finishing up interviews this week in the case of a Rushe Middle School teacher accused of being intoxicated in her classroom, Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said.

The teacher, Kylene Nelson, remains on administrative leave, Fiorentino said.

Administrators who interviewed Nelson, students and other witnesses will make a report to the superintendent, who in turn will make a recommendation to the school board.

Only the school board can fire the teacher, but the board doesn't meet again until April 21. The board's April 7 meeting was canceled because the school district is on spring break that week.

Nelson, 42, a language arts teacher, was taken into protective custody March 18 under the state's Baker Act after she appeared drunk in class at Rushe Middle School and a test showed she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.26, a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report said. A level of 0.08 is considered intoxicated.

Parents said their children told them Nelson put on music, danced and tried to get some of them to dance with her. Some of the students used cell phones to photograph or take video of the teacher.

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 information in her personnel records, on Oct. 26, 2006, 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, Fiorentino said she had considered recommending the school board fire the teacher 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. She also would not be allowed to return to Seven Springs Middle.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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