Female teacher Vicki Bruce at elementary school brought meth into school to get high before class

Mike Gallagher

Sep 30, 2012 - 07:13

Sep 30, 2012 - 07:19

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Female teacher Vicki Bruce at elementary school brought meth into school to get high before class

Teacher Vicki Bruce is accused of using methamphetamine at the school where she works

An elementary school community is in shock after leaing a third-grade instructor, recognized by the PTA for her stellar teaching ability, was arrested on Wednesday for using meth on school grounds.

Vicki Bruce allegedly kept the drug wrapped in tin foil stashed away in a photo album in her purse and used it on-and-off over a seven year period - before she would teach her students at the Reno Elementary school in Azle, Texas.

A former student even said that Bruce told her pupils to stay off drugs and kept a 'Say No To Drugs' poster in her classroom.

Just say no: The third-grade teacher, told students to stay off drugs but was doing meth, according to police

The 46-year-old has taught at the elementary school for 10 years and has received awards for her teaching from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) as well as recognition from her teaching colleagues.

'It's very shocking and surprising,' Patrick McGrath, whose son was a student in Bruce's class last year, told KDFW-TV.

'To have a teacher that you trust with your kid doing any kind of drug, that they're supposed to be teaching them not to do ... it's real shocking.'

In fact, McGrath's son Nolan said that the teacher gave a speech last year about staying off drugs.

'We had a no drug poster, he said. 'She said don't do drugs. It's bad for your system and if you do you'll get caught.'

School in shock: Vicki Bruce had taught at the elementary school for 10 years

Student: Nolan McGrath was in Vicki Bruce's third grade class last year and heard the teacher give a speech about staying off drugs

Police were tipped off about a drug using teacher at the elementary school by an informant in an armed robbery case in nearby Wise County.

When police first began investigating Bruce, she was found with meth in her car, at the school parking lot, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

She tued herself into police on Wednesday after she leaed there was a warrant out for her arrest.

The school superintendent said the district was cooperating with law enforcement and that the teacher was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.