October 12th 2023.
A kindergarten teacher at Pine Forest Elementary School in Humble, Texas, has resigned after a school investigation revealed her to be at fault for giving out melatonin gummies to special education students without the consent of their parents or guardians.
Jamie Mount, a spokesperson for the Humble Independent School District, told CNN via email that the district became aware of the teacher's actions on September 28th. She described the teacher's decision as "unacceptable" and "appalling".
The investigation found that the teacher had given out the gummies without parent permission, and without notifying the school's administration or nurse. As a result, the teacher's resignation became the quickest solution to terminate her employment, since the district did not want to go through the lengthy process of terminating her contract.
Principal of the school has since notified all parents of the students in the teacher's classroom about the incident, and informed the police, the State Board for Educator Certification, and Child Protective Services.
One parent of a 5-year-old student who was given melatonin reported that the principal called her to discuss the matter. She said the teacher had asked for suggestions on how to calm down her son, who is nonverbal. The parent also said that on a few occasions, her son came home from school "completely lethargic, stumbling to get off the bus".
National University notes that the work environment for special education teachers can be highly stressful as they attend to students with a wide range of personalities and developmental struggles. Patience is paramount for such teachers, as it is a virtue and a must.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that melatonin is an over-the-counter sleep aid regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and is used for primary sleep disorders in children. However, there is a possibility of children overdosing on the dietary supplement, according to the National Institutes of Health.
At this time, the teacher has not been charged.
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