Posted at: 07/28/2010 7:34 PM
By: Abby Miller

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Former Teacher's Aide Arrested for DWI on Way to Work

Former Teacher's Aid Arrested for DWI on Way to WorkA former Twin Cities teacher's aide was arrested on her way to work, accused of driving drunk.

38-year-old Sarah Bjerke was headed to Crosswinds Middle School in Woodbury the morning of July 22nd when she was pulled over. According to a criminal complaint, a State Patrol trooper stopped Bjerke for speeding, but smelled alcohol. The State Patrol says Bjerke had a blood alcohol level of .133. Bjerke has two previous DWI convictions, one in January of 2008, the other from October of 2009.

School district officials say Bjerke should not have been hired in January of 2010, calling it unacceptable, but say she did go through a background check. The superintendent says Bjerke is no longer with the district because of prior disciplinary problems unrelated to the DWI arrest.

On Wednesday, the District told 5 Eyewitness News that another employee had the same name as Bjerke who also worked at Crosswinds Middle School.  The district says the other Sarah Bjerke, who taught social studies, left the school at the end of the 2008-2009 school year and was considered an excellent teacher.