Middle School Principal Of Year Admits Driving Drunk Before Arrest

WALTHAM (CBS) - The 2015 middle school principal of the year in Massachusetts admitted in court Monday to driving drunk earlier this month.

Dedham Middle School Principal Debra Gately was pulled over and arrested in the early morning of Sunday April 3 in Weston.

Read: Keller: Drunk Driving Arrest Proof Of Larger Problem

She came to Waltham District Court Monday for a pre-trial hearing in the case in which she was charged with her first offense for operating under the influence of alcohol.

Gately, 44, admitted to sufficient facts that she was driving drunk and her case was continued without a finding for one year.

If she stays out of trouble for the next year, the charge will be removed from her record.

Her driver's license has been suspended for 45 days and she has already entered an alcohol rehabilitation program, as ordered by the court.

Dedham Superintendent Michael Welch put Gately on administrative leave after her arrest.  He had no comment Monday.

Gately has been principal of the middle school since 2009.

She was named Massachusetts middle school principal of the year in 2015.