Woburn Teacher Had Drugs At School: Police

WOBURN, MA -- Woburn Public School officials started investigating a teacher in the school's English department after learning students were sharing pictures of her asleep in class on Snapchat. Earlier this month, students saw police escort Sarah Hanson, 37, but school officials did not publicly disclose the incident until Friday. Hanson has not been criminally charged and Woburn Public School officials did not name her in a press release issued Friday, only saying the employee had been placed on paid administrative leave after police found her in possession of drugs on school property.

Patch has contacted Hanson, who teaches the school's AP literature course, for comment and will update this story when we hear back from her. In the press release, Superintendent Matthew Crowley said the incident did not involve students. The school where the teacher worked was also not named.

"Due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation involving a personnel issue, we are not at liberty to discuss any further details," Crowley said. "However please know that we take allegations of any alleged wrongdoing seriously, and our priority is always on providing students with a safe and appropriate educational environment."

After an investigation by Woburn Police and its school resources officer, the matter was deemed a personnel issue that will be handled by the school system, according to the press release. The release did not specify what kind of drugs or the quantity of drugs found on Hanson.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).