Teachers gave elementary students ‘special’ stickers to make them nap, TX parents say

Elementary school teachers accused of giving children sleeping aids have been removed from their Texas classroom as officers investigate, district officials say.

Parents at Northgate Crossing Elementary School in Spring say their children were given “special” stickers by two teachers Sept. 24, according to KTRK. Lisa Luviano asked her 4-year-old daughter about the sticker when she came home from school, and her daughter’s response worried her.

“She said, ‘It is a sleeping sticker,’” Luviano told KTRK. “I asked, ‘Where did you get this?’ And she said, ‘My teacher gives it to me for sleeping time.’”

Other parents shared similar stories, including Najala Abdullah, who told KHOU her son was acting different after the school year began.

“They’re giving them drugs to make them sleep to keep them quiet,” Abdullah said, according to KHOU.

The blue sticker features a nighttime design with a moon and stars, according to KTRK.

Melissa Gilford, whose daughter recognized the patch, said the sticker is called a Sleep ZPatch, KHOU reported.

Made by Klova, the patches include melatonin and other “naturally occurring ingredients” to help people sleep.

Klova says the product is not intended to be used by people under 18.

Melatonin is regulated as a dietary supplement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, meaning there is less oversight compared to over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs. And it is not recommended for children under 5 years old, according to SleepFoundation.org.

The Spring Independent School District said in an Oct. 9 statement to McClatchy News it is aware of the allegations of two staff members administering “sleeping supplements.”

“These staff members were immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave, pending an ongoing investigation by the Spring ISD Police Department,” the district said. “The district takes every allegation of educator misconduct seriously and will take all necessary measures to ensure that our students are educated in a safe and nurturing environment.”

Spring is about a 25-mile drive north from Houston.