URBANA — A federal drug investigation with ties to Logan County has resulted in an Urbana City Schools teacher being placed on unpaid suspension, as her husband remains jailed awaiting trial.
According to information reported by the Urbana Daily Citizen, Ruthann (Rankin) Salsburey, who has been charged federally in connection with an alleged drug distribution operation, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2011. Her publicly available professional profile indicates she worked as a first-grade teacher at Columbus Preparatory Academy from July 2014 through March 2018.
Salsburey has been employed by Urbana City Schools since 2022 and was teaching at Urbana Junior High at the time charges were filed.
Urbana City Schools Superintendent Charles Thiel issued a statement to the Urbana Daily Citizen confirming that district officials were notified Monday morning of the criminal charges.
“Due to the seriousness of these charges, Ms. (Rankin) Salsburey has been removed from her teaching duties and placed on unpaid suspension while the investigatory process continues,” Thiel said.
He added that, as a precautionary measure, the classroom and office space used by Salsburey were searched prior to students returning from winter break. According to the district, no items or materials were found that posed a safety concern.
Thiel noted that there have been no prior reports of misconduct or questionable behavior involving Salsburey during her employment with the district and said Urbana City Schools will continue cooperating with law enforcement as the case moves forward.
Federal court records show Salsburey’s husband, Justin Robert Salsburey, remains incarcerated at the Franklin County Jail, where he is being held pending trial on federal drug charges.
Information regarding Ruthann Salsburey’s current location or custody status has not been released.
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