A teacher with 20 years of employment in the Clarkston Community Schools is on administrative leave on the accusation of being found intoxicated on the first day of school.

“A (preliminary breath test) was administered in a private setting, within the contractual guidelines,” said Anita Banach, the district’s communication coordinator.

The teacher, who taught seventh-graders at Sashabaw Middle School, was found to have a 0.08 blood alcohol content level based on a preliminary breath test. That is the legal limit for driving, said Det. Kirk Matich, the school’s liaison officer.

School officials requested that Matich administer the test to the teacher about 11 a.m. Sept. 2, he said.

Since the first day of school was a half-day for students, the teacher was approached near the end of the school day.

“She was coherent and talking to us and just very cognizant of what was going on,” Matich said. “She did lose her balance and fell, so that’s why I called a medic to take a look at her, but it wasn’t like she was stumbling-down drunk.”

She fell after taking the test and then standing up, when she started to feel dizzy, Matich said.

“I think after the initial shock of the (test) results — it was a combination of everything,” he said.

The teacher told Matich and others present that she had been drinking the night before, but not that day.

“It’s been known to happen. It’s all based on body weight and what your tolerance level is,” Matich said. “Every situation is different.”

No criminal report was filed against the teacher, and the issue was classified as a medical one, Matich said.

“My understanding is that’s she’s an outstanding teacher and has been there for years,” he said.

The district would not comment on what may happen to her employment, except to say that she is on administrative leave.

“At no time were students in any jeopardy,” Banach said.