'Teacher of the Year' resigns after allegedly slurring her words, 'wobbling' and hiding wine in her classroom

Elise Solé
Catherine Sullivan, who taught at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina, resigned, allegedly for drinking alcohol at school. (Image: WCSC)
Catherine Sullivan, who taught at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina, resigned, allegedly for drinking alcohol at school. (Image: WCSC)

A middle school “Teacher of the Year” resigned when bottles of alcohol were allegedly found in her classroom, after months of suspicious behavior.

According to Charleston, S.C., news outlet WCSC, on Oct. 30, eight-grade students at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina were locked out of teacher Catherine Sullivan’s classroom. When her colleagues opened the door, they found Sullivan in a storage closet acting “out of sorts.”

Principal Robin Rogers said that Sullivan looked confused and kept asking for her students while saying, “In the closet.” She was asked to have someone pick her up from school and was sent home.

In an email sent the next day, according to WCSC, Rogers told the associate superintendent of human resources, Karen Whitley, that he had peered into Sullivan’s car window and saw a paper bag with two empty cartons of wine coolers and a bottle with some wine in it. He also reportedly stated that Sullivan’s breath gave off a grape-scented odor.

A teacher at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina reportedly resigned after officials said they found her drinking alcohol at work. (Image: WCSC)
A teacher at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina reportedly resigned after officials said they found her drinking alcohol at work. (Image: WCSC)

On Nov. 12, an attendance clerk reportedly went to help Sullivan with grading and observed that she smelled of alcohol and was behaving strangely. The clerk said Sullivan was unable to finish her work. WCSC reported that Sullivan admitted carrying wine bottles in her personal bag.

According to Charleston, S.C., news station WCBD, which obtained a records request, on Nov. 12, Sullivan’s eyes were red, her lips were purple and she was slurring her words and “wobbling.”

Sullivan was reportedly placed on an eight-day period of administrative leave, but her first day back was short-lived because students saw her entering the closet to allegedly “drink something.” The students took photos of a wine bottle, and when the principal searched, he uncovered three wine containers. According to Charleston, S.C., news station WCSC, Sullivan admitted drinking at 7:30 a.m.

A teacher at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina, who has resigned, allegedly hid wine bottles in her classroom closet. (Image: WCSC)
A teacher at Hanahan Middle School in South Carolina, who has resigned, allegedly hid wine bottles in her classroom closet. (Image: WCSC)

Sullivan went home and later that week, she resigned from her job. WCSC reports that a Dec. 13 letter addressed to Sullivan contained notice of her resignation and misconduct allegations that were to be sent to the South Carolina Board of Education.

Yahoo Lifestyle could not locate Sullivan for comment and the Berkeley County School District did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.

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