Northland teacher admits alcoholism, found guilty of serious misconduct

Michelle Beryl Campbell tested positive for alcohol on a school morning, on 26 May 2016. Photo / file.

A Northland teacher has admitted she's an alcoholic, after incidents including two drink driving convictions, and testing positive for alcohol on a school day.

Michelle Beryl Campbell from Kamo had already been convicted of drink driving in 2014, when on May 3 this year, police officers found her drink-driving a second time.

Campbell had misjudged a right-hand bend, mounted the kerb, and hit large rocks on the grass verge. After bouncing over the rocks, her car crossed the centre line and almost hit the kerb on the opposite lane.

She continued to drive, and was later found by police at the home of her partner.

Campbell was disqualified from driving for 28 days, but was discovered driving to work two weeks later.

Her school imposed conditions that Campbell be breathalysed twice a day, to ensure she was not teaching while under the influence of alcohol.

But on the morning of Thursday, May 26, she returned a breath alcohol reading of 90 mcg/l. The legal limit is 650 mcg/l.

Campbell told the school the result was from drinking the night before. She was then put on leave from teaching.

She was sentenced to four months community detention and disqualified from driving indefinitely, but still had to face the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal.

In Tribunal hearings, Campbell admitted she was an alcoholic. She presented evidence she'd attended weekly AA meetings since February, self-referred to a 13 week Drive SOBA course, and attended weekly counselling sessions with a DHB Drug and Alcohol counsellor.

The Tribunal has censured Campbell and found her guilty of serious misconduct, saying she brought the teaching profession into disrepute.

It's noted the seriousness of her offending, but also acknowledged the grip of alcohol on an addict, which can override responsible decision-making.

The Tribunal's imposed conditions that for the next three years Campbell will have to inform any employer of the incident and disciplinary proceedings, submit to breath alcohol testing by any employer, and provide monthly reports to the Education Council from and alcohol or drug counsellor.