Substitute Teacher Charged With Sniffing Cocaine In Classroom
POSTED: 4:38 pm EST December 8, 2005 UPDATED: 11:34 am EST December 9, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The principal of Lake Shore Middle School said she was shocked when four seventh-grade students told her they thought their substitute teacher was doing drugs in the classroom.
Terry Kauppila made his first appearance Friday morning on a charge of felony cocaine possession. He was ordered held on $15,000 bond and will be back in court on Dec. 29.Principal Iranetta Wright said she immediately went to the classroom to speak with the teacher, Terry Kauppila, then got the school's resource officer involved. The resource officer said he saw a small baggie with white powder in it and that the Kauppila admitted he had a problem. "It's one of those things that are so bizarre that you think it couldn't be true," Wright said. Kauppila, 45, was arrested on on a charge of possession of cocaine in the classroom full of students. "The students were visibly moved. They were concerned and very adamant that what he was doing was wrong," Wright said. Wright said she called the parents of the 25 students that were in the science class Kauppila was teaching. "I can't believe that something like that would happen here. I'm totally shocked. This is a good school," said parent Joanne Harrell.
Lake Shore Middle Principal Iranetta Wright
Wright said she could not be more proud of the students who came forward and many parents agreed. "That means there are some kids out there who care if drugs and stuff are around," said parent Alex Hoblit. Thursday was the second time Kauppila had been to Lake Shore Middle School. The first time he was at the school, Wright said, she recalls him doing a good job. Kelly Services provides substitute teachers to Duval County schools. Wright said they let her know that they did do a criminal background check on Kauppila and that everything came back clean. Kauppila made a first appearance in court Friday morning and was ordered held $15,000 bond. He will be back in court Dec. 29.
