UPDATED: Former North Andover Teacher and Coach Accused of Giving Drugs to Teen Swimmer

Photo Credit: 7News/whdh.com

Former North Andover High School teacher and swim coach, Elizabeth Backler, 28, of Newburyport, was arraigned on Tuesday morning in Lawrence District Court on two counts of distribution of Oxycodone) and one count of distribution of Diazepam.

Judge Mark Sullivan ordered Backler to stay away from and have no contact with the victim or the witness; to stay away from North Andover High School; to have no unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old; to remain drug-free except for prescribed drugs; and to submit to random drug screens.

Essex Assistant District Attorney Heidi Mader told the court that in June, the North Andover Police initiated an investigation after a parent expressed concern to a school official about the defendant’s relationship with her child. Through their investigation, North Andover Police learned that the student was seen swallowing a pill that the defendant handed her which was later learned to be Oxycodone.

“These allegations are very troubling,” said North Andover Police Chief Paul Gallagher. “The North Andover Police Department will continue to work closely with the North Andover Public Schools and the Essex District Attorney’s Office to ensure that our students are safe.”

Jennifer Price, Superintendent of North Andover Public Schools, released a statement following Backler’s arraignment:

Elizabeth Backler, a former North Andover Public Schools employee, was arrested last night on 2 counts of Distribution Class B (OxyCodone) and 1 count of Distribution Class C (Diazepam). It is alleged that she gave the drugs to a North Andover student athlete in 2014.

Ms. Backler worked for the North Andover Public Schools in various capacities from May 2011 until February 2015. She was a daily substitute teacher from May 2011 to April 2012, a long-term substitute from April 2012 to June 2013, a full-time Science teacher for the 2013-2014 school year, and an assistant coach for both the Boys and Girls Swim team for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. She is no longer employed in any capacity by the North Andover Public Schools.

In June 2015 when Ms. Backler was no longer an employee of the North Andover Public Schools, the North Andover High School administration was notified by a parent about potential concerning behavior by Ms. Backler. The high school administration immediately turned this matter over to the School Resource Officer for the North Andover Police. The police then began a thorough investigation of the matter. The police have informed us that to the best of their knowledge this is an isolated incident only involving a single student.

We appreciate the thorough work of the North Andover Police on this matter. Our students’ safety is our top priority, and this is an example of how working in partnership can help protect our students.

The victim was a 16-year-old swimmer, according to 7News/whdh.com

On Tuesday morning, Gary Reese, interim superintendent for Amesbury Public Schools, where Backler currently works, released a statement, according to 7News/whdh.com:

We have been informed that one of our teachers has been arrested for an alleged drug offense. We take these allegations very seriously. The protection of our students is paramount. To the best of our knowledge, these allegations do not involve any students in the Amesbury Public Schools district. We will continue to work cooperatively with the police and district attorney’s office. The teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending a comprehensive investigation into these allegations. As this is a personnel matter, and in order to preserve the privacy rights of all involved and the confidentiality of the process, I am not able to provide any additional details.

The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 3. She is represented by Attorney Melinda Thompson and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.