Parents upset over teacher's return after arrest - WSMV Channel 4
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Some parents are upset about a Nashville teacher's return to the classroom after her arrest over the summer.
Sarah Hobbs was placed on leave from Sylvan Park Elementary after a traffic stop led to serious charges. But now that the case has been settled, she will soon be back with students.
About a dozen parents met Tuesday at Sylvan Park Elementary to voice their concerns.
"I can't speak for the group. There are some parents that feel a bit more forgiving about it, but as for me, I've asked that my child be taken out of that class," said parent Shauna Hoyal.
Parents like Hoyal said they were also angry over the way they found out about Hobbs' recent trouble with the law.
Metro police said Hobbs, a first-grade teacher at Sylvan Park, was traveling east on Charlotte Pike near Sawyer Brown Road back in May when she was pulled over for having a busted headlight. The officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the car, and the teacher's 4-year-old was with her.
Hobbs was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
In the past few months, Hobbs has been on leave from Metro Nashville Public Schools, and another teacher was filling in until Hobbs' legal woes were behind her.
When Hobbs reported to her classroom Monday and the other teacher was reassigned, some parents were outraged about the change.
Administrators at the district's central office said it was the duty of Sylvan Park Principal Evalina Cheadle to tell parents about the interim status of the substitute teacher.
"We love Sylvan Park. We love Mrs. Cheadle and we love our kids. It would've been nice to have all the information ahead of time," Hoyal said.
Not all parents feel that way.
"I understand they're upset, but it was not Mrs. Cheadle's decision. It was a Metro decision," said parent Diane Sussman.
Sussman has two children at Sylvan Park. None of Sussman's children are in Hobbs' class, but Sussman said the parents should be complaining to the district, and if Hobbs is sober, Sussman said she should be given another chance.
"If she has sought counseling and turned her life around, she should be given another chance," Sussman said.
Hobbs wasn't in the classroom Tuesday. In an email to Channel 4 News, Cheadle said Hobbs would be returning to work Wednesday.
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