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New Jersey high school art teacher is arrested after he OVERDOSED on fentanyl in front of students, who found him unconscious on his classroom floor.
- Frank Thompson, 57, was arrested after overdosing on fentanyl at Roosevelt Middle School in Westfield, New Jersey on Thursday.
- He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and endangering the welfare of children.
- A school resource officer administered Narcan after Thompson was found unconscious on the classroom floor.
A New Jersey high school art teacher has been arrested after he overdosed on fentanyl in front of his students, after he was found unconscious on the classroom floor.
Frank Thompson, 57, was charged Thursday with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children at Roosevelt Middle School in Westfield.
A school nurse rushed to the second-floor classroom where Thompson was unconscious before a school resource officer identified as Fortunato Rigo administered naloxone hydrochloride, Narcan, after believing the teacher was suffering from an overdose.
Thompson began to show signs of improvement, according to the Westfield Police Department.
Frank Thompson, 57, an art teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Westfield, New Jersey, was arrested Thursday after overdosing on fentanyl in front of his students, who found him unconscious on the classroom floor.
The exterior of the middle school where the students found him unconscious on the classroom floor. He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children.
Investigators found fentanyl and “various items of drug paraphernalia” in a classroom locker, authorities said.
Thompson is due to appear in High Court on February 1.
Following the disturbing incident, Superintendent Raymond González issued a statement.
‘The Westfield Public School District cannot comment on personnel matters that are confidential. We will maintain a continued focus on the safety of students and staff and on preserving the integrity of the classroom learning environment,” González said.
“We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Westfield Police Department.”
It is unclear at this time if Thompson is still employed by the Westfield Public School District.
Thompson, who earned her bachelor’s degree in art education from Kean University, has been teaching in the Westfield school district for the past ten years, according to the school. website.
According to his bio, he wrote that he started at the elementary level before teaching high school and said that he planned to get his master’s degree in computer arts.
‘I have always liked art. In school, art was the subject I looked forward to the most. As a child I loved to draw. As I grew older and gained experience in various media, I found that I enjoyed many forms of visual expression, including sculpture, ceramics, weaving, mosaic, and jewelry making,” Thompson wrote.
‘As a student, first in public school and then in college, I can remember the freedom I felt through creative expression and the sense of accomplishment that came from learning a new process or technique.
He also talked about his passion for art and his reason for becoming an art teacher.
I feel like I can make use of all that participating in art has to offer, because it’s what I know best and what I’m most passionate about. That’s why I decided to be an art teacher. I strongly believe that the active manipulation of the senses involved in activities in art makes other subjects more meaningful,” she said.
‘A quality artistic experience coupled with academics is sure to produce a more well rounded and thinking individual. This makes teaching in a city like Westfield, which is so supportive of the arts, a pleasure and a great opportunity.
Westfield School did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.