Valparaiso teacher drunk at school

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Posted: 11:50 PM Oct 4, 2007
Last Updated: 4:06 PM Oct 5, 2007

21 comments

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Police in Valparaiso say a first grade teacher is free on bond after she was arrested at school drunk.

Forty nine-year-old Sharon Duerring reportedly had two cans of beer in her purse when she was arrested.

Officials at Cooks corner elementary removed Duerring from the classroom and called police when they suspected she was drunk.

A portable breathalyzer showed her blood alcohol was more than twice the legal limit.

She was ordered not to return to the school.

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Posted by: Eran Location: valparaiso on Oct 14, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I went to Cooks Corners, "Thumbs up Vern Turner!"

Posted by: Mom Location: Plymouth on Oct 10, 2007 at 10:11 PM
For Beth in Osceola: Lay off of Home Schooler. I sent my kids to public school but I "sheltered" them. They were only allowed to play with children whose parents I had met and approved of. They were not allowed to watch television. If that makes them "socially slow" I don't give a rat's nose. Those six kids who play with each other are the greatest!! Families are forever--friends are temporary!!

Posted by: Rachael Location: Elkhart County on Oct 10, 2007 at 09:57 PM
Wow homeschool parent comment! I can think of 1,384,984 reasons not to homeschool a child.

Posted by: Beth Location: Osceola on Oct 10, 2007 at 03:58 PM
Ok, Home Schooler,shelter your kids some more from the world. This is a horrible thing, but unfortunlatly we can not keep our kids in a bubble their whole lives. I have seen many shows on home schooling and the kids themselves said the ended up being socially slow. Especially when the got to college. We have a family of six kids in our neighborhood. They play with no one but their siblings. How sad. This teacher should be fired!! I would at my job if I did it.

Posted by: Bonnie Location: niles on Oct 10, 2007 at 02:41 PM
I cant believe that teaching first graders is that stressfull! I tought first grad when i was in college and it was a delight. I think this woman is in need of some serious help!

Posted by: Dawn Location: South Bend on Oct 10, 2007 at 01:23 PM
I agree with Kay from LaGrange..Not to sound judgmental, but I am tired of people and their reluctance to take responsibility for their actions. yes, people because of genetic makeup might be more PRONE to drinking, wtc. But there is a conscious decision to have that drink. Where is the accountability? Tired of everyone witha problem playing the blame game. We all have difficulties in life. If you need help go get help. Hope this woman gets the help that she needs, but keep our innocent children out of the picture

Posted by: Rae on Oct 9, 2007 at 10:58 PM
I am a 1st grade teacher and I work very hard every day. It's bad enough that most people think that all we do is art projects all day(some how people forget 1st grade is when you learn to read) but the last thing educators need is someone making a mockery of our profession. It is very hard work and it deserves to be respected but when someone pulls a stunt like this it makes all educators look bad. A class of 25 6-7 yr old students is hard enough to manage sober I don't know how you could manage to try it drunk. I think that she should be terminated IMMEDIATELY!! This situation really makes me wonder how many times this has happened and gone un-noticed. Did nobody notice how drunk she was before school started???

Posted by: Paul Location: Epstein on Oct 9, 2007 at 02:11 AM
Honestly, this, other than the arrest, wasn't an unfamiliar scenario at my high school (graduated in 2004). Drunk teachers serve as more a warning than anything, most students view the teachers as something they DON'T want to be, and if the teacher is drunk that's one more thing to avoid. Bringing beer into the classroom as well as being noticeably drunk is very much excessive, but it's not out of the student's experience. I would support the school's right to remove the teacher (conduct is obviously inappropriate to an educational environment) but treatment would serve a higher purpose than simple fire-ing of the teacher.

Posted by: tax-payer Location: marshall county on Oct 8, 2007 at 10:21 AM
This is not nothing new in our school system. We have had teachers that had parties with the students and provided the beer and drugs. There was nothing done about it. He ended up marrying one of the students from the party with a little age difference. Then there is a grade school teacher in our system that has had to have other teachers to come to her house to get her ready for school because she was so drunk from the night before. Glad she doesnt teach my children. Can you imagine a teacher with a hangover teaching class!! But then the topper was the Principle had a party at his own house and beer was a option for the kids. So go figure what your tax dollar is paying for Education NOT!!! I do believe that parents if you are able home teach your children. I think they should also take away the school tax on our property tax if you home teach your children. Take away tax breaks for schools with this type of behavior. Ask yourself what goes on in your school system.

Posted by: April Location: Mishawaka on Oct 8, 2007 at 07:08 AM
To Edward in MI...you clearly do not have young children. I am sure your stance on this matter would be different if you had to worry about your children's safety every day you sent tham off to FIRST GRADE!!! Absolute insanity. This woman deserves to be punished for endangering all of those children. She drove to school then began her day with a class full of 6-7 year olds while comsuming alcohol. Shame on her and shame on the school if she is not TERMAINATED IMMEDIATELY!!!

Posted by: Dave Location: South Bend on Oct 8, 2007 at 02:14 AM
I think that Heath Weaver taught her how to teach in that manner. It is already surprising that he is teaching again in Michigan City Schools. How does relative Butch Morgan like him now??

Posted by: sue Location: mishwawka, In on Oct 7, 2007 at 09:35 AM
This is unexceptable. While many of us have to pass a drug test for just to get employment {running a cash register, simple landscaping ect .losing our jobs for showing up to work drunk .and/or even smelling like alcohol from the night before and not intoxicated. It makes in extememly difficult to get a job thereafter. Most of us don't get a second chance why should this person get one ? Theaching our children that it is ok to disregausrd rules and regulation . And to top it off showing our children that it is ok to drink and drive ,{YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!}

Posted by: Lois Location: Berrien Springs on Oct 6, 2007 at 07:30 AM
I am thankful my child is out of school! But I sent her to private school and was not a stranger to their hallways. This should be a wake up call for all of us!

Posted by: Pam Location: South Bend on Oct 5, 2007 at 09:26 PM
What is the "LEGAL" limit for being nder the influence in the class room?????

Posted by: Kay Location: Lagrange on Oct 5, 2007 at 08:54 PM
Ok, I'm going to get hissed and boo'd for this statement by every counselor out there, but when are we going to stop babying people who choose to drink too much by letting them off the hook with the label "illness or disease"?? Look, I'm a forgiving person, but we don't allow meth or any other drug adict to use this excuse. I do indeed hope this woman gets herself some help before she hurts herself or someone else - and I certainly hope part of the healing process is the constant reminder that she was TERMINATED from her position as a teacher for showing up intoxicated! The school systems expel students for alcohol / drugs - seems only right that a teacher should be terminated from employment for the same reasons.

Posted by: Homeschooling Parent Location: Michiana on Oct 5, 2007 at 08:25 PM
Reason 1,384,984 for homeschooling! My kids don't have to worry about their teacher showing up for a school day drunk!

Posted by: Parent Location: Ellkhart on Oct 5, 2007 at 07:26 PM
How did she get to the school in the first place? There is an article on this same page that says kids at a high school have to pass a breathalther just to go to a home football game...does that need to be used for teachers too? I would hate to be the parents of the kids that walk to school on the same route she drove. How much did the woman have to drink to get her BAC to twice the legal limit? And to bring beer to school? Just absolute craziness

Posted by: Edward Location: Mi on Oct 5, 2007 at 06:31 PM
Obviously This teacher made a bad choice, but some good may come from it. Now maybe she can get the help she may need to through A.A. or treatment of some kind. If she has an alcohol problem which seems to be true, this is a wake up call for her to try and turn her life around.I wish people wouldn't be so quick to judge a person with this type of illness.She should be given a chance to better herself and not totally lose her job over it.The school should send her to a treatment center and give her the benifit of the doubt.Bad day, bad choice for sure. She needs help not punishment.Good luck for her recovery if she is willing to go to any length to put this episode behind her. A.A. works if you work it.Enough preachin' now action on her part.

Posted by: Parent of a first grader (thankfully not of this teacher) on Oct 5, 2007 at 04:34 PM
The article said "she was ordered not to return to the school." Hopefully this means NEVER. If she was having that bad a day, she should have just called in sick!

Posted by: Parent Location: Elkhart on Oct 5, 2007 at 04:19 PM
It used to be safe to send your children to school...now you have to worry about guns, drugs, and even the teachers drinking...having to wear name badges whil in school...are the kids in school or in jail? I fear for what it will be in the future