Washington State Suspends Educator’s Teaching Certificate After Extreme Intoxication Incident

In a Final Order issued on April 20, 2026, OSPI suspended the Washington teaching credentials of educator Carly Hill.

According to the state’s disciplinary findings, the suspension stems from an incident where Hill was found heavily intoxicated on an elementary school campus—an event that occurred nearly four years ago in another state.

An Out-of-State Incident

State records indicate that during the 2022-2023 school year, Hill was employed in a classified position at Canyon Breeze Elementary School in Avondale, Arizona.

At the time, she also held an active Washington Residency Teacher Certificate—a credential she obtained in August 2013.

According to the OSPI order, on August 19, 2022, Hill was observed under the influence and in possession of an intoxicating beverage on the school’s premises.

While the document notes that Hill initially denied consuming alcohol on campus to school administrators, she subsequently submitted breath samples that revealed a staggering .245 blood alcohol level—more than three times the legal driving limit.

Following an investigation by the Arizona Board of Education, Hill signed a settlement agreement on November 8, 2023.

Per the agreement, she admitted to the consumption of alcohol on school grounds and accepted a two-year suspension of her teaching certificate in that state, along with mandated substance abuse treatment.

Washington Response

It is the timeline of Washington State’s response, however, that may alarm local families relying on the state to vet the adults in their children’s schools.

Despite the severe nature of the August 2022 incident, OSPI documents reveal that Washington authorities were not notified of the Arizona disciplinary action until January 18, 2024, receiving an alert through a national database known as NASDTEC.

Even after receiving this formal notice, the state’s bureaucratic wheels turned slowly. OSPI’s Office of Professional Practices did not interview Hill until August 28, 2025.

During that interview, she reportedly admitted to consuming alcohol on the Arizona campus, stated she “did not feel intoxicated at all,” and noted she had resigned from the Arizona district in lieu of termination. She also admitted she had not completed an out-patient treatment program.

Ultimately, it took until April 20, 2026—nearly four years after the initial incident and more than two years after the state was formally notified—for Washington to issue a Final Order suspending Hill’s active credential.

Reinstatement Conditions

According to the OSPI order, Hill’s Washington education certificate has now been suspended for at least one year.

To have her credential reinstated, state officials have required her to undergo an approved substance abuse evaluation, complete any recommended treatment, and pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check through both the FBI and the Washington State Patrol.

State records indicate that as of February 2026, Hill had failed to provide proof of successful completion of a required treatment program to either Arizona or Washington authorities.