Teacher accused of being drunk at school

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A Virginia Beach middle school teacher is accused of being drunk on the job.

Andrea Kellam, 54, a Princess Anne Middle School teacher was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with one misdemeanor count of being drunk in public.

A school resource officer was notified by another staff member that the teacher may be under the influence of alcohol. Police say an investigation determined Kellam was intoxicated.

Willard Ashburn, a parent, told WAVY News 10 on Friday, "If it's true, she's being very irresponsible." He went on to say, "These kids are being taught by these teachers and they look up to these teachers and for this to happen is, once again, irresponsible."

Osie Pallette told 10 On Your Side, "There's a time and a place for everything and alcohol doesn't need to be in the school system. I have nieces and nephews that go to school here. It's a bad thing. It shouldn't have happened."

Kellam is currently on administrative leave pending a human resources investigation and court proceedings.

She was hired by Virginia Beach Public Schools in September, 1993.

According to school officials, Kellam taught at Bayside High School from 1993 to 1999.  Since then, she's been at Princess Anne Middle School. 

Her current assignment was as an 8th grade Civics teacher.