An award-winning special education teacher who formerly taught in Hermitage School District pleaded guilty to a child-endangerment charge and is serving 4 years of probation.

Marganie "Gayne" Bortz, 55, of 49 Rexford Drive, Hermitage, had faced eight charges related to a 2001 incident in which she failed to give prescribed medication to a student.

According to court records, Mrs. Bortz entered a guilty plea Aug. 20 to the misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of children. As part of the plea agreement approved by Mercer County Judge Thomas R. Dobson, once she completes her probation, all charges against her will be expunged. She also must continue to receive mental health treatment and must follow up with any recommended mental health care.

She had faced two counts each of theft, reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of children and acquisition by misrepresentation.

Mrs. Bortz did not give the prescription drug Ativan to a 17-year-old student with mental and physical handicaps on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, 2001. One of her duties as a special education teacher, according to a police affidavit, was to administer medications to students.