Picton failed to inform her boss of the arrest until she was questioned about it when she returned to work a few days later, raising concerns she was consuming the drugs at the school and resulting in her suspension.
“There was no evidence she was intoxicated in work but there was such a small gap that it was possible she had been in work under the influence of drugs,” Hope said.
Hope told the committee she felt Picton had not been straightforward with her answers, claiming her brother had caused the smell in the car when asked about her own drug consumption.
“I asked Jessica Picton if she had taken cocaine to which she replied, ‘not knowingly’. There was a lack of transparency. I reminded her this was her opportunity to give me an honest account.”
The committee is yet to formally decide whether she will face any punishment for the incident but has determined her “dishonest” professional conduct was unacceptable.
She was convicted of driving under the influence on June 14 last year and has been subject to a 17-month driving ban since.
