BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent confirmed the teacher cited in a federal lawsuit for giving her class over-the-counter sleeping supplements known as melatonin is no longer employed within the school system.
“BCPS can not comment on pending litigation,” Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Myriam Rogers said. “That individual is no longer employed at Baltimore County Public Schools.”
ALSO READ | Maryland Board of Education dismisses appeal of Baltimore County’s $2.5B budget vote
FOX45 News reached out to BCPS, asking if the teacher was terminated by BCPS or did they leave on their own and when did this happen?
A spokesperson for BCPS responded, saying they were unable to provide additional details at this time.
FOX45 News also reached out to the Baltimore County Police Department, asking whether the teacher has ever been investigated by police for what’s alleged in the lawsuit, or whether BCPD will now conduct its own investigation. A spokesperson replied back saying, “we are not investigating this matter at this time.”
A mother of a non-verbal autistic student at Maiden Choice School has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming her child, along with other students, was drugged with melatonin by their teacher.
Maiden Choice School serves students with cognitive disabilities.
The lawsuit began in State Court, now moving to Federal. The mother is suing the Baltimore County Public School System, Maiden Choice School, the principal, and her child’s teacher.
I’m pretty shocked,” Baltimore County resident Terry Sann said. “I can’t imagine a teacher doing that without any parental supervision, but if it’s true, it would be wrong.”
FOX45 News also spoke with a parent who said he agrees with the mother filing the lawsuit, saying he has experienced his own issues with his disabled son attending the school. The parent told FOX45 News that his son has regressed in his education since attending Maiden Choice School.
“I’m with the parents’ side, whoever did this thing,” Maiden Choice School parent Mahasring Das said. “I can support them, but this school is not good for my son.”
In the lawsuit, it cites the incident that happened back in September of 2024.
Within the lawsuit’s statement of facts, it states that the non-verbal autistic child was given melatonin each morning for a period of at least two months by the teacher and her aides.
The mother was informed by administrative staff, specifically the principal of Maiden Choice School, that the incident was under investigation.
The teacher was placed on administrative leave, and a whistleblower reportedly came forward.
But according to court documents, the principal and assistant principal had suspicions well before then of foul play when the entire class was found sleeping mid-day, daily, and consistently for a period of at least six weeks before hearing from the whistleblower.
The court documents also state that, as a direct result of this incident, the mother said her child suffered significant cognitive and behavioral setbacks in his already existing treatment and condition, suffered severe blood loss from bloody noses, developed insomnia, was deprived of a free education, and was discriminated against due to his non-verbal disability.
Local Story
