Bobo returns to class as homebound teacher

Former Liberty School teacher Dawn Bobo has returned to work in the Bedford County school system after being suspended last year for carrying a firearm to school.

The veteran teacher was placed on pre-trial diversion in February and sentenced to 11 months, 29 days of probation, had to forfeit the weapon, and pay fines and court costs. If all terms of the pre-trial diversion are met, the Class "A" misdemeanor charge will be expunged from her record.

Bobo is now teaching homebound students full-time.

"I'm glad she has gone into that program," said Ed Gray, schools superintendent, who suspended Bobo from teaching duties last December.

While Bobo would not comment on whether she had a choice in being transferred to homebound status, she did say she discussed homebound teaching with Gray and, "it sounded like a great opportunity."

"I have been doing it for about two weeks and I am thoroughly enjoying it," she told the Times-Gazette Tuesday.

There are two homebound teachers in Bedford County. They work with students who are unable to attend class for medical reasons.

"Pregnant students and students who are too ill to go to school are referred to this program by a medical doctor," Gray said.

Typically, students are allowed to stay on homebound status for up to six weeks, according to Gray, who said at times it can be longer than six weeks, as long as updates on the student are provided to the school by the recommending doctor.

Bobo was charged with a Class "A" misdemeanor, rather than a Class "E" felony, indicating the incident was an accident. She qualified for a pre-trial diversion because she had no criminal convictions in her past.

Bobo allegedly carried a .22 Ruger target pistol to Liberty School last December. She said she had the firearm in her possession for protection against coyotes while checking her rural mailbox.

According to police reports, Bobo informed school officials upon realizing that the firearm was in her purse.

"When she realized what she had done, she made the appropriate contact to the SRO (school resource officer), told him what she had done, was subsequently placed under arrest and taken into custody," said Assistant District Attorney William Bottoms, in a February interview with the Times-Gazette.