First Grade Teacher Uses Cocaine In Front Of Students

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Teacher Uses Cocaine In Class

Lewiston, New York - Lewiston Police arrested 59-year-old Joan Donatelli of Lewiston Tuesday with criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

School officials confirm Donatelli is a retired first grade teacher with the district. Lewiston Police say she was substituting in a fourth grade class on February 1st.

That's when they say two fourth grade girls, one nine-years-old, the other 10-years-old, spotted Donatelli repeatedly dipping a pen cap into a small green plastic bag filled with white powder, and bringing it up to her nose.

Jessica Weinstein: "What was it about the way they spoke to you that made them believable?"

Sergeant Frank Previte, Lewiston Police says, "First of all their candor. Their account of everything in stating what they saw. They were very specific about the color of the bag, the color of the pencaps that were used, which all again, we were able to back up."

Police say the girls were seated less than five feet from the teacher when it happened. Lewiston Police say they found trace amounts of a white powder in the classroom. They say they later went to Donatelli's Lewiston home where she admitted to using cocaine in front of the students.

"She stated that she had a problem, that she has an addiction, something she's been struggling with," said Previte.

Lewiston Police further say she turned over the little green bag and two pen caps. Police had them tested, and they were found positive for the presence of cocaine.

Donatelli was issued an appearance ticket and is due to appear back in court February 21.

Lewiston-Porter Central Schools has an intensive drug and character education program for its students beginning in Kindergarten. School officials confirm Donatelli taught full-time during the 2003-2004 school year. That curriculum, say school officials, would have included a drug-education curriculum.

Jessica Weinstein: "So Joan Donatelli as a former full-time 1st grade teacher in this district for a year would have used this curriculum?"

Peggy Beach, elementary principal: "I would say she would have used this curriculum. Yes."

School officials could not confirm whether the students who reported Donatelli would have been in her first grade class.