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Teacher arrested for snorting cocaine in class
JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- It didn't take long for students in the 2nd period 7th grade science class at Lake Shore Middle School to realize something was wrong with their substitute teacher.
According to Principal Iranetta Wright, students became so alarmed, they notified school administrators immediately. "Allegations were made by the students that a substitute teacher was in class doing drugs. They said he was sniffing something."
The principal talked to students, then the substitute teacher, and contacted police.
Forty-five-year-old Terry Kaupilla was arrested and taken into custody.
According to the police report, a bag of cocaine was spotted near Kaupilla while he was being questioned by police. The report says he later admitted, 'he had been doing this for about seven months and realizes he had a problem.'
Kelly Services employs substitute teachers for local schools. They told First Coast News they do conduct background checks on all potential teachers. They also released this statement: "We are working closely with the school district to determine exactly what transpired and will be taking appropriate action."
Meanwhile, the principal is proud of her students for recognizing a problem and then doing the right thing. Wright says, "It speaks volumes for the trust they have in us because they could have handled it much differently."
Kaupilla has been suspended. This was only the second time he had worked at Lake Shore Middle School
Teacher arrested for snorting cocaine in class
JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- It didn't take long for students in the 2nd period 7th grade science class at Lake Shore Middle School to realize something was wrong with their substitute teacher.
According to Principal Iranetta Wright, students became so alarmed, they notified school administrators immediately. "Allegations were made by the students that a substitute teacher was in class doing drugs. They said he was sniffing something."
The principal talked to students, then the substitute teacher, and contacted police.
Forty-five-year-old Terry Kaupilla was arrested and taken into custody.
According to the police report, a bag of cocaine was spotted near Kaupilla while he was being questioned by police. The report says he later admitted, 'he had been doing this for about seven months and realizes he had a problem.'
Kelly Services employs substitute teachers for local schools. They told First Coast News they do conduct background checks on all potential teachers. They also released this statement: "We are working closely with the school district to determine exactly what transpired and will be taking appropriate action."
Meanwhile, the principal is proud of her students for recognizing a problem and then doing the right thing. Wright says, "It speaks volumes for the trust they have in us because they could have handled it much differently."
Kaupilla has been suspended. This was only the second time he had worked at Lake Shore Middle School
