Parents and students in Barre Town, Vermont, were left deeply disturbed earlier this month after a substitute teacher was removed from a middle school classroom for reportedly being under the influence of cocaine.

Melissa Martin, 47, was arrested early this month, after school officials and police responded to erratic behavior allegedly caused by drug use while she was teaching at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School, as the Daily Mail reports.

That Wednesday morning, Barre Town Police were dispatched to the school following a report of an adult behaving as if they were impaired by drugs. Administrators contacted authorities after students expressed concern about the conduct of their substitute teacher, describing her as incoherent and unstable.

Police: Teacher confused student for dog

The teacher in question was identified as Melissa Martin, who had been employed for approximately three years as a permanent substitute at the school. According to police and school officials, her behavior raised red flags among students long before law enforcement arrived on the scene.

One eighth-grade student told his mother that Martin repeatedly nodded off during class and abruptly ran out of the room. When the student followed her to see if she needed help, she allegedly mistook him for her pet, addressing him by saying, “Hey Teddy, why are you off your leash?”

Shaken and confused, the student reported the incident. Joan Canning, superintendent of the Barre Unified Union School District, said the student acted appropriately: “He did the right thing, and that is part of the curriculum. If you hear something, you’re concerned about something, you say something.”

Drug discovered during classroom search

When officers arrived at the school, Martin reportedly admitted that she had drugs in her possession. A K-9 search was conducted in her classroom, which led to the discovery of a small quantity -- less than 2.5 grams -- of what was suspected to be cocaine.

The drugs were found in both her jacket and backpack. Based on the evidence and student reports, police placed Martin under arrest at the scene. She was charged with possession of cocaine and reckless endangerment for allegedly being impaired while overseeing the care of students.

Barre Town Police Chief William Dodge addressed the matter publicly, stating, “The charges that we have cited her for are possession of cocaine and reckless endangerment, based on the fact that she was under the influence while she was in control of the students in her classroom.”

Parents express shock, outrage

Martin appeared in court later that week and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was released under conditions that prohibit her from being on school property for the duration of the legal proceedings.

Parents have since voiced frustration and fear. Brittany, the mother of the eighth-grade student who spoke up about the incident, said her son came home visibly shaken. “He said that his substitute teacher was clearly on drugs and was acting crazy,” she explained. Brittany, along with many others, raised questions about safety procedures and accountability. “Where was the vetting? Why is there no drug testing?” she asked. “The utmost priority should be our children’s safety.”

District officials claim adherence to protocols

Superintendent Canning stated that Martin had passed all background checks before her employment and that no red flags appeared at any point during her hiring or her years of service. “Both times this person’s background came back clean,” she said.

After Martin’s arrest, she was immediately terminated under the district’s zero-tolerance policy regarding drug use. According to Canning, the school took swift action to ensure the safety of its students from that point forward. “The person is not at school now,” Canning said. “The parents should feel totally confident that their students are safe.”

Community reels from incident

Residents have responded with disbelief. “A lot of us were just shocked, just wowed, because we never expected something like this to happen in a school,” said Sabrina Shea, a parent whose child attends the same school. Shea added that the incident has made her question the level of oversight in the classroom environment. "I was furious," she said. "How are students supposed to feel safe around her?”

The arrest has prompted broader discussions about how to better protect children in educational settings, particularly when it comes to screening and monitoring substitute educators.

Lessons to learn

1. Be Vigilant and Listen to Students: In this case, it was a student who recognized that something was wrong and alerted adults. Teaching children to identify abnormal behavior and feel empowered to speak up is essential for school and community safety.

2. Advocate for Prevention Measures: While background checks are important, they may not catch current substance abuse issues. Regular evaluations or drug testing in high-responsibility professions like teaching may offer additional layers of protection.

3. Understand No System Is Perfect: Despite best efforts and existing safety protocols, misconduct can still occur. Recognizing that these failures are systemic -- and not the fault of any victim -- is crucial in building stronger prevention strategies moving forward.

Why this story matters

This incident raises urgent questions about safety in schools and the systems used to monitor those responsible for educating children. It demonstrates the potential consequences of substance abuse in environments where trust is paramount. Most importantly, it shines a spotlight on the need for improved oversight to prevent similar situations in the future.

These stories resonate beyond their immediate communities -- they challenge institutions to respond, reassess, and ensure that children remain protected in environments designed for their growth and well-being. Parents, educators, and policymakers alike must examine how this happened and what can be done to ensure students’ safety going forward.