BONIFAY — The State Attorney’s Office says it won’t pursue criminal child abuse or endangerment charges against a Bonifay Elementary School teacher who was found to have been under the influence of drugs while in her classroom.
Third grader teacher Dawn Hersman was placed on an “indefinite leave of absence” by the Holmes County School Board after a complaint was filed alleging the teacher was involved in drug related activity. Hersman remained on an unpaid suspension last week as an internal investigation by the Holmes County School District continues.
Public records show the school district sent Hersman to have a urine and blood test after her “immediate removal” from the classroom. The results of those tests indicated “amphetamines well in excess of toxic levels, thus impairing (Hersman’s) ability to function in the classroom and putting (her) students at risk.”
A complaint was filed with the Office of the State Attorney; however, Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Wilson said the case would not be pursued because “there is no evidence that her actions or level of intoxication rose to the level of child abuse or endangerment as defined by criminal statute. The school administration took the appropriate actions to insure that Ms. Hersman’s erratic behavior did not endanger the children in her care.”