Tulsa teacher fired amid drug charges

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A Tulsa elementary teacher has been fired after being charged with drug trafficking. The Tulsa Public School board voted unanimously Thursday to dismiss Mary Ellen Martinez, 42.

Friday, February 11th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A Tulsa elementary teacher has been fired after being charged with drug trafficking. The Tulsa Public School board voted unanimously Thursday to dismiss Mary Ellen Martinez, 42.

The teacher at McKinley Elementary School was being held in Creek County. Authorities say they found about 340 pounds of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her Sapulpa home in December. Martinez was a fifth-grade teacher and had been an employee of the Tulsa district for 17 years. She was fired for incompetence, willful neglect of duty and moral turpitude, according to a school board statement.