In a plea bargain reached last week, Melissa Stewart, a former Prairie Grove High School teacher, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor and agreed to permanently relinquish her Arkansas teaching license, according to city prosecuting attorney Steven Parker.
"My objective was to ensure that she didn't teach again," Parker said.
Stewart will pay $470 in fines, fees and costs. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail but this was suspended contingent on her voluntarily giving up her Arkansas teaching license permanently.
Parker said Stewart signed the paperwork to give up her license and this has been forwarded to the Arkansas Department of Education.
Stewart will not be able to teach in Arkansas, Parker said. In addition, he said he suspects she will not be able to teach in other states, as well.
Stewart, of 13185 Rocky Ridge Road, was cited on Dec. 3, 2015, with knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor, after she admitted to Prairie Grove police that she purchased and provided alcohol to individuals she knew to be under the age of 21, according to a police report on her arrest.
The incident occurred Oct. 31, 2015, at an apartment on West Thurman Street in Prairie Grove. Former Prairie Grove students and current high school students were at the apartment, according to the police report.
Stewart also admitted to police that she was aware under-age individuals had consumed alcohol at her residence in the past. Her home is located outside the city limits.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge Dec. 23 and was scheduled for trial Feb. 2 in Prairie Grove District Court.
On Feb. 1, Parker said the officer involved in the case was out of town and the trial was moved to Feb. 16. Parker said it did not appear a settlement would be reached. However, the next day, Stewart, represented by attorney Eldon Cripps of Bentonville, and the city prosecuting attorney's office agreed on a plea bargain.
Stewart was suspended with pay from Prairie Grove School District in December, pending an investigation of the charge. The Prairie Grove School Board unanimously voted to terminate her contract following an executive session Jan. 7.
Allen Williams, superintendent of Prairie Grove schools, recommended terminating Stewart's contract because of inappropriate conduct. In a letter outlining the reasons for his recommendation, Williams wrote that he believed Stewart's effectiveness as a teacher at Prairie Grove had been "irreparably damaged" and could not be restore.
"Parents expect that a teacher would not purchase alcohol for minors and would not condone drinking of alcohol by those minors in your presence. Your instructional effectiveness, maintaining the appropriate teacher-student relationship, and your ability to establish and maintain an appropriate level of public trust is highly jeopardized," Williams stated in the letter.
Stewart worked for Prairie Grove High School for five years and was in her sixth year as a high school math teacher. She holds a master of arts degree in teaching. Prairie Grove was her first teaching job, according to the district's administration office.
Stewart's attorney could not be reached for comment.
General News on 02/10/2016