Parents in Livingston got a jolt this month after a junior high teacher landed in the hospital, then in jail, when school staff and investigators said they found methamphetamine inside a classroom. District officials say the employee has been placed on administrative leave and that there is no indication any students came into contact with the drug.
Campus staff called police on Thursday, March 12 after responding to a medical situation and spotting a suspicious substance on campus. Investigators later determined the material was methamphetamine and recovered other items typically associated with drug use. Police identified teacher Amanda Stanzel as a person of interest and interviewed her at a hospital the next day, according to Click2Houston.
School Profile And Local Context
Livingston Junior High serves roughly 880 students, according to district data compiled by the Texas Tribune. The campus is the district’s primary junior high in Polk County, part of a small and tightly connected school system north of Houston where news like this tends to travel fast.
Arrest And Charges
Officers interviewed Stanzel on Friday, March 13 and presented the case to a judge, who found probable cause and signed two arrest warrants. After Stanzel was released from the hospital on Wednesday, March 18, Livingston officers took her into custody and booked her into the Polk County Jail on charges that include abandoning or endangering a child, elderly or disabled person and possession of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone, according to Click2Houston.
District Response
In a brief statement shared with reporters, Livingston ISD said the employee was placed on administrative leave immediately after the March 12 incident and that the district is cooperating fully with law enforcement as the investigation continues. Officials emphasized that the safety and well-being of students and staff remain a top priority while the district follows required legal and personnel procedures. The communications office declined to offer additional details, citing the active nature of the case (Livingston ISD).
Legal Landscape
The charges outlined so far carry significant potential penalties under Texas law if prosecutors move forward with formal counts. Abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual or disabled individual is defined under state statute, which is summarized by FindLaw. Drug offenses committed on or within 1,000 feet of school property can also trigger enhanced punishments under Texas law, as detailed by Texas Public Law. Those provisions can increase the severity of a charge when minors or protected locations are involved.
What Comes Next
Police say the investigation remains ongoing and that, at this point, there is no evidence students came into contact with the drugs. If prosecutors decide to file formal charges, upcoming steps in the case, including any court dates and hearings, will be reflected in Polk County court records and related filings (Polk County Sheriff’s Office).
