TEXAS — A Texas teacher has resigned after it was found she was giving students in her special education class melatonin gummies.

The teacher worked at Pine Forest Elementary School in Humble, a suburb of Houston.

According to CNN, the teacher gave melatonin to "a few of her students," and the school district was informed of the situation on Sept. 28. Instead of firing the teacher, school officials decided that having her resign would be more efficient, since firing a teacher can be a more drawn-out process.

The district is investigating the incident and it has been reported to the state board of education certification.

Melatonin is a supplement used for aiding in sleep, often given to people suffering from insomnia, though it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The teacher was not authorized by the students' parents to give them the melatonin gummies. The teacher also did not notify the school nurse or principal about giving the students melatonin.

KENS 5 reports that one mother is afraid to send her non-verbal child back to school after the incident.

"We just noticed at least on three occasions when he came home, he was completely lethargic, he was stumbling to get off the bus," she told KENS 5.

According to Conneticut Children's, melatonin overdoses are common in children. The National Poison Data System has received over 260,000 phone calls about children consuming too much melatonin. More than 50,000 of those calls were in 2021. During that period, more than 4,500 children nationwide experienced serious symptoms of melatonin overdose. Five children were placed on a ventilator and two children died.

Because she has not been charged, the teacher's identity has not been released.