FARMINGTON—A former Davis School District special education teacher faces misdemeanor charges after a hard seltzer beverage was allegedly found in her classroom at the Vista Education campus. 

Katherine Meatoga, 60, is charged with Possession or Consumption of an Alcoholic Beverage at a School. Meatoga has been a special education teacher in the district since October 2022. She resigned Feb. 13, 2026. 

The incident occurred on Feb. 9 when staff in the classroom noticed irregular behavior of the employee and immediately reported it to a supervisor. A district security investigator responded to the situation and Meatoga was removed from the school and put on leave, a district release said. 

According to the district, Meatoga admitted to having hard seltzer in a stainless-steel tumbler that she consumed that morning. Questions have been raised that a student drank from the tumbler and fell that same day.

“There is no report of the student falling in relation to this incident,” said Director of Communication & Operations for Davis School District, Christopher Williams. “The fall occurred a half-hour prior to the incident at the center of the investigation. The fall occurred as the class began to move to do a dance activity. The fall had nothing to do with the teacher in question. Medical attention was not required.”

Upon learning and confirming that a student took possession of the employee’s mug, it was reported to the student’s parents, he said. “There is no indication anyone witnessed the student drinking from the tumbler. The district also followed its regular protocol and reported the incident to the Farmington City Police Department, the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission and Adult Protective Services.”

Davis School District gave the following statement: “The Davis School District and our community have high expectations for educators. Unfortunately, in this circumstance, an employee violated that trust. We do not tolerate the possession or consumption of alcohol on school premises. We are also appreciative of our staff members who are trained to report anything that they see that is out of the ordinary. That open communication allows us to protect the well-being and safety of our students.”

Meatoga’s arraignment is scheduled for May 5.