A former Stillwater Area High School gymnastics coach was suspended without pay for 30 workdays earlier this year after she showed up to work smelling of alcohol.
Traci Swenson, who teaches English at the high school, was believed to be under the influence of alcohol when she came to school on Nov. 10, 2017, according to a February discipline letter signed by Stillwater Area High School Principal Rob Bach.
Swenson said via email Wednesday that she is receiving treatment and has agreed to “rigorous monitoring” by the school district.
Stillwater Area Public Schools released the letter Tuesday in response to a Pioneer Press records request.
“On multiple occasions over the last four years, as a result of you smelling of alcohol, administrators at the high school have met with you to discuss concerns that you had reported to work under the influence,” Bach wrote in the letter, which was heavily redacted before being released to the Pioneer Press. “On November 10, 2017, you again reported to work smelling of alcohol. … Your persistent misconduct and failure to comply with directives will not be tolerated.”
Bach also wrote that concerns had been raised about Swenson’s grading. “Student learning is significantly impacted when timely feedback is not provided,” he wrote. “You have repeatedly failed to meet expectations.”
Swenson was suspended without pay from Feb. 2 to March 16.
“More than 15 million Americans have alcohol use disorder, as described by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. I am one of them,” Swenson wrote in an email response to a reporter’s request for comment.
“At my job, I have accepted my punishment and learned from it,” she wrote. “At home, I have apologized to my friends and family. I continue to rely on their love and support as I focus on being the best teacher I can be for my students.”
Swenson resigned from her position as head gymnastics coach just before the start of the 2017-18 season.
Dusty Dennis and Joan Ledson, who had served as assistant coaches, took over as co-head coaches and led the team to the Class 2A state championship in February.
Swenson has worked at the high school since August 1997.
