Drunk teacher Jill Lyle fired after passing out at school in Santa Fe

A substitute teacher has been fired after she was found passed out drunk while at school.

Jill Lyle was found unconscious on Friday at Chaparral Elementary School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in an office connected to a classroom.

Officials said Lyle was found with a cup next to her.

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'We do not know how much, or if any for that matter, had been consumed, but we do believe it was a cup containing wine there with her in the classroom.'

Lyle denied that she was drunk and told a police officer that she had simply fallen asleep.

At the time, students were at recess, koat.com reports.

Lyle was taken away in an ambulance.

No charges brought: Police Lt. Louis Carlos said because children were not under her care when she was found, this is not a criminal matter

Mr Carlos said: 'We did not find any wine bottles or any container that had wine.

'We don’t know how she got it or where it came from.”

If police found children in the classroom, Lyle would’ve been in a lot more trouble.

Because the children were on their lunch break and not directly under her care, a Santa Fe police representative said nothing criminal was done and no charges will be filed.

Lyle has worked with the school district since February.

The terms and specific reasons for Lyle's termination are not being made public.

Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez told KOB-TV: 'Our employees have privacy rights and I have to be responsible for protecting those rights.

'But yes, it does make it difficult sometimes when you can't tell the whole story.'

Mrs Gutierrez added Lyle was subbing for a fifth-grade class on Friday, and has never had any previous problems within the district.