A Menifee teacher who was previously the subject of a district investigation for alleged misconduct was arrested on Tuesday for alleged intoxication on a school campus.
Staci Lyn Baker, 47, was arrested at Chester Morrison Elementary School following police response to a call from a school administrator with concerns that Baker appeared to be intoxicated while on campus, according to a Menifee Police Department press release. She was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta and faces an Aug. 25 court date.
“At this time, we have no information indicating that any student was physically harmed or directly endangered during the incident,” Sgt. Raul Perez stated in the press release. “There is no ongoing threat to the school campus or the surrounding community.”
No other details were given by police. A media request to administration of the Menifee Union School District for comment was not answered Tuesday afternoon.
Baker was formerly a teacher at Taawila Elementary School in Menifee and was transferred to Chester Morrison after several complaints about her conduct last year. One parent who contacted Menifee 24/7 last November accused Baker of being abusive to her students in class, banging her fist on the desk and screaming at students. Other parents who contacted Menifee 24/7 stated that their child came home from school crying every day, saying their teacher is mean and they didn’t want to go to school. A few of them were transferred out of the class at the parents’ request.
One parent reported an incident last year at Taawila when, on a hot August afternoon, Baker allegedly made her students stand at attention in the sun for 20 minutes because they “weren’t listening.” She was also accused of manipulating students’ grades because they didn’t match up between the Aries grading portal and Google Classroom site, and that she listed missing assignments students and parents say they were never told were assigned.
Parents further alleged in emails to Menifee 24/7 that the Taawila principal at the time told them that Baker was “being investigated” by the district. However, no disciplinary action was reported by the district. MUSD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Root did not respond to two requests for comment by Menifee 24/7 last November. Instead, communications director Devina Ortega gave the following response in an email at the time:
“Thank you for reaching out. The District is aware of this situation. Please know that it has been handled as appropriate.
“While I am unable to share specific details regarding staff or students, our primary focus always remains on maintaining a safe environment for all students.
“Also, the Superintendent is often busy and not always readily available. To ensure the most timely and efficient handling of media requests, please direct all future inquiries to me. As the Director of Communications and Community Engagement, I am best positioned to assist and facilitate your requests.”
Because no criminal charges were filed, Menifee 24/7 did not report on this situation at the time. Later, it was learned that Baker had been transferred to Chester Morrison.
