A substitute teacher is being investigated for misconduct after reportedly showing up to a music class drunk, authorities said.
Students were seen dancing on chairs and tables Friday afternoon when an employee at the school peered inside the classroom at Carl Hankey K-8 School in Mission Viejo, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Students said the substitute teacher had started a dance contest in class.
The teacher, who has not been identified by authorities, was called to supervise a class Friday.
She showed up at the school at 12:45 p.m.
Some of the boys reported that the teacher was acting weird, Amormino said.
At one point the substitute teacher walked out of the classroom and was observed stumbling by the principal. She was called to the principal's office and a strong odor of alcohol was detected, Amormino said.
Deputies were called to the school.
"(The principal's) concern was she didn't want her to leave the school and drive like that," Amormino said.
When deputies arrived, however, the substitute teacher had already left the area. Deputies searched near the school but were unable to locate the teacher.
At 5 p.m., deputies were again called and notified that three sixth-grade boys told officials the teacher had "engaged in misconduct" with the boys. Authorities would not specify what misconduct the boys were referring to, citing an ongoing investigation.
On Monday, authorities interviewed the students in the class, and authorities are still looking into the incident.
No arrests have been made.
Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361
