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Ex-teacher sentenced for meth

She's ordered to three years' court supervision after a no - contest plea.

By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published October 24, 2006

INVERNESS - A former teacher of emotionally troubled students who was charged with possession of methamphetamine earlier this year is now serving three years of drug court supervision.

Judge Ric Howard ordered Jennifer Amanda Schwarer to seek treatment and counseling in the county's drug rehabilitation program after she pleaded no contest to a felony charge of carrying a controlled substance.

Schwarer, 35, who taught at the Renaissance Center, was arrested in the school's parking lot in April. A sheriff's detective had found a plastic bag with a gram of meth and a straw that had been recently used to smoke the drug inside her Nissan pickup.

The detective already knew Schwarer's driver's license was suspended for failure to pay several traffic fines, according to an arrest report. He had checked her out after some of her students told the school resource officer that "she acted as if she was on speed," the arrest report said.

In the parking lot, the detective noticed Schwarer was extremely jittery and had trouble speaking clearly. Her face and arms were covered with sores that drug users commonly develop from smoking meth, the report said.

When he asked if she had anything illegal, Schwarer said, "Yeah, probably," the report said.

Schwarer was placed on administrative leave with pay after the arrest. She is no longer listed as an employee of the school system, according to district records.

If Schwarer completes the county's drug court program, she could have the charges stemming from her arrest dropped.

In drug court, offenders are closely watched by the judge and case managers, who monitor their treatment, counseling and weekly drug screenings.

Failing a drug test could mean a few days in jail while regularly attending treatment could mean fewer drug tests.

Schwarer worked in Citrus schools since 2001. Previously, she worked with incarcerated teens at the Cypress Creek Juvenile Detention Center.

In her request for a transfer to the Renaissance Center, Schwarer listed as the reason "seeking a safer working environment."

At the Renaissance Center, a school for students with emotional and behavioral problems, Schwarer taught psychology and, more recently, middle school science.

In the 2002-03 school year, she was placed on an administrative review plan because of attendance and behavior problems. She made "excellent progress," said principal Dave Cook.

In August 2005, after the death of her husband, Schwarer requested a leave of absence. But later she changed her mind and decided to stay at the school.

Eddy Ramirez can be reached at eramirez@sptimes.com or 860-7305.

[Last modified October 24, 2006, 06:37:25]