Julie Weems

EDAC 633
Case Study One
Case 39 – A Time to Reflect
Summarize the Case
Candy Vice, a high school student from Maryville High School, passed out on the soccer field
prior to the beginning of a soccer game at Morningside High. As assistant principal, I supervise
athletic activities, so was contacted by the principal at Morningside High. After arriving at the
soccer field, Candy’s coach said there was nothing to worry about, and Candy was okay. She
regularly takes her mom’s valium to calm her nerves before games. I was also informed it was
fine with Candy’s parents she take the valium. I was not okay with any of this information, and
asked that Candy sit out, but the coach said she would be playing the entire game, and it was not
my concern. When I returned to my school, I was greeted by two members of the school board
and the principal of Maryville High. They said they had taken care of the matter, so to leave it
alone if I wanted to keep my job.
Maryville High is located in a quiet, safe community. The school offers many activities to its
students, and although small, takes sports very seriously—they have earned a large number of
trophies in football, cross country and soccer.
Identify the Problem in a Single Sentence
I, the assistant principal, found out that a high school soccer player, Candy Vance, takes her
mother’s valium before soccer games to calm her nerves, and although I am uncomfortable with
it, the coach, the principal, and the school board told me to leave it alone, or I would lose my job.
Select Significant Information and Place the Data into the Categories
People
1. I am the assistant principal in charge of supervising athletic activities.
2. Candy Vance is a student and soccer player at Maryville High School. She takes her
mom’s valium to calm her nerves before games.
3. Maryville’s soccer coach doesn’t see Candy’s use of valium as a problem.
4. The Maryville principal wants to keep Candy’s use of valium before games quiet and
says he has dealt with it.
5. The school board members feel the same way as the principal, and they want to let the
issue go.
6. High school sports are important to the community of Maryville, and winning influences
the school board, parents, and school administration.
Place
1. Maryville is a small, quiet suburban community, but it is growing.
2. Many parents and families live in Maryville, but the adults commute to Featherton, a
nearby city, for work.
3. The high school is small, serving about half the students of other high schools nearby.

Program
1. Maryville High serves 1,450 students.
2. Maryville High has one principal, one assistant principal, one activities director, and
many long-tenured teachers.
3. The school is small, but competitive in sports; especially football, cross country, and
soccer, and has acquired many trophies over the years.
4. The school offers a number of programs and activities to keep its students busy.
5. Maryville is considered a safe community for its families.

Review and Prioritize the Data

1. I am the assistant principal, assigned to supervise athletic activities.
2. I find out a student athlete is taking prescription drugs meant for someone else.
3. I try to handle the situation, only to be shut down by the coach.
4. The athletic department influences administration and the school board.

Solve the Problem

My job has been compromised because I tried to take action against a student athlete taking
prescription drugs prior to her soccer games. The student has support from her parents, coach,
administration, and the school board because the athletic department is influential in this school
system.

Research Questions
1. What are some of your specific concerns regarding this case?
Benzodiazepines, or valium, are dangerous for teenagers. Although they are prescribed for
anxiety, they are addictive and can interact with other medications. They induce a pleasant state
of relaxation for those who take them, which is why they are sometimes abused. In the past ten
years, benzo use has tripled in teens (Klein, 2019). Doctors do not usually prescribe valium to
teenagers, so they usually get them from their parents or they buy them illegally. When I hear of
children taking these drugs, especially without a prescription, I worry that they are not only
harming their bodies, but they will become dependent on them to get through their days. Not
only that, it is illegal, as there are federal and state laws regarding this matter--This includes
parents sharing their drugs with their children.
Performing well in athletic endeavors is more important than abiding by the law and keeping our
students safe.
2. Will you contact the superintendent of the school district and inform him of the incident?
Before contacting the superintendent, I will follow the chain of command by setting up a meeting
with the principal first to let him know my concerns. If I get nowhere with him again, I will
contact the superintendent. I understand my job may be in jeopardy, but the health and safety of
my students are my top priority. There are other steps I can and will take following the meeting
with the superintendent if need-be.
3. What will you do if some of the parents of the girls’ soccer team hear about the incident?
In smaller communities, word travels quickly. That being said, laws have been broken, so I
would respectfully tell the parents it was an on-going investigation, and I cannot comment at this
time. I will let them know the situation is being handled.
4. Why do you think the school board members were at the high school with the principal
when you returned to school?
I believe the principal and school board members met me at the school to intimidate me. They
likely heard from the soccer coach I wanted Candy to sit the game out and possibly even go
home after the incident. It has been made clear to me the importance of athletics at this school,
and it is becoming clear that that importance comes at a high price for our students. They did not
want me to take the issue any further and threatened my career to prove their point.
5. Will you contact the principal at Morningside again? If so, what will you tell him?
I will not contact the principal at Morningside until this matter has been resolved in some way.
6. Will you discipline Candy for possessing Valium at a school function?
Disciplining Candy could, ultimately, put my career at-risk. That being said, I am in charge of
supervising sporting events, and Candy passed out on my watch. I will call in Candy’s parents to
discuss the legal and health implications of sharing prescription drugs. I will inform them and
Candy that drug use is not tolerated, and she will lose her place on the team if it continues, at the
very least. Other disciplinary action could result in up to ten days of suspension, and I will be
contacting the local police. She could also be recommended to the Board of Education for
expulsion.
7. Do you believe the girls’ soccer coach handled the situation correctly? Why or why not?
The soccer coach did not handle the situation appropriately. At any sign of distress, it is the
coach’s responsibility to put the health of his players over anything else. The coach should have
been the one to report Candy passing out and the valium usage. An educator or coach can and
will be fired if he/she fails to report alcohol or drug use. Allowing Candy to play after she passed
out was also negligent.
8. What are the legal implications in this case?
It is illegal to use prescription drugs without a valid prescription. The law varies depending on
the type of drug being used. People can be arrested, incarcerated, have their driver’s license
revoked, and/or have to pay fines. The penalties vary from state to state. Valium is a Schedule IV
substance, so it is illegal to use without a prescription in every state. Candy could be charged
with a misdemeanor, in which she could face small court fines and probation at the very least
(Schaffer, 2018).
The school, including the soccer coach, could be liable if this situation would fall under child
abuse. There could be a potential mandatory reporting issue. By not giving the matter any
attention, there would also be school code of conduct violations (“The Code of Ethics for
Educators,” 2019).
The parents could be faced with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. This is usually a
misdemeanor, but can be punishable to up to one year in jail, and/or a fine up to $2,500
(Schaffer, 2018). Probation for twelve months is also common, though it all varies state to state.
9. What are the moral and ethical implications in this case?
“The model code of ethics define unethical conduct justifying disciplinary sanction and provides
guidance for protecting the health, safety and general welfare of students” (“The Code of Ethics
for Educators,” 2019). This code of ethics has been broken in this case. Candy’s health, safety
and welfare are being compromised if her school and her coach are allowing her to use drugs
before participating in sports.
Morally, taking medications prescribed for someone else is wrong. Allowing your child to take
your prescription drugs is wrong for many reasons: it is against the law, it can become addictive,
and it can have health consequences. Covering up the knowledge that a student is taking
medication not prescribed to her to help a school win games is wrong. A school should not set a
precedent where kids can get away with breaking the rules as long as they are good athletes.
10. Will you follow the advice of the principal and school board members and ignore the
incident? Why or why not?
With what I know about addiction and drug abuse, I would not let this go. Two of my sisters
passed away in their thirties because of addiction. This situation should not be ignored,
regardless of the threat of losing my job as assistant principal. When I became an educator, I
made a commitment to my students to not only teach them, but to care about their well-being and
futures. Winning should not be more important than a child’s physical and emotional health.
There are avenues I can take if I do not get anywhere with Maryville High or Candy’s parents,
and I will not be intimidated into letting this go.
Hanson, Karen L. (2009). A casebook for school leaders. Pearson Education Inc.

Klein, Y. (2019, June 28). Why benzodiazepines are dangerous for teens. Retrieved from
evolvetreatment.com.

Schaffer, L.M. (2018, September 5). What’s the penalty for a parent giving drugs to kids?
Retrieved February 1, 2020, from findlaw.com.

The Code of Ethics for Educators. (2019, October 15). Retrieved from
www.gapsc.com/Rules/Current/Ethics/505-6-.01.pdf