By JILL MCNEAL
6 News Anchor/Reporter
LENOIR CITY (WATE) -- A middle school science teacher and soccer coach is put behind bars for the second time.
Lisa Hoffmeister, 37, was arrested Friday and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Back in February, she was arrested and charged with failure to report child abuse.
Hoffmeister has been a teacher at Lenoir City Middle School for six years. She was first arrested in February, after allegedly telling the principal that a 14-year-old female student was being physically abused at home, but not calling DCS.
Hoffmeister was released on bond and ordered to have no contact with the girl in question. She was rearrested after the two were found together in Hoffmeister's parked van Thursday night, past the state-mandated curfew for minors.
A parent who didn't want to go on camera tells 6 News Hoffmeister did a great job in her first year as soccer coach. She even kept a blog about her team, complete with game photos and detail about great plays. The parent says Hoffmeister was close to all the girls, but too close to one of them.
Hoffmeister was released from the Loudon County jail Friday night on $5,000 bond.
The Lenoir City Schools Superintendent says he is aware of an inappropriate relationship between the teacher and student, not necessarily sexual. Wayne Miller says Hoffmeister was suspended for 30 days without pay after her first arrest. He says he plans to vigorously pursue stronger disciplinary action this time, up to and including termination.
Miller adds that an investigation into whether the girl was being abused at home found Hoffmeister's claim was unfounded.
