A counselor at Happy Valley Elementary School has been placed on leave after a third arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence since April 2025, according to court documents and North Clackamas Schools. Joni Lynn Clayton, 61, was arrested Sept. 13 after a Subaru Crosstrek crashed into an apartment building near Southeast Woodstock Boulevard in Portland. She faces charges including driving under the influence of intoxicants, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and criminal mischief. Police found Clayton in the driver’s seat and another woman in the back of the vehicle, according to an affidavit. The passenger told police the car had been traveling straight while its turn signal repeatedly switched on and off, and had stopped in an intersection. She said Clayton then appeared to drive onto a sidewalk while attempting to turn onto Southeast 49th Avenue, striking the building and breaking several windows. The passenger said she got out to check on Clayton and broke a window of the Subaru to get inside. An officer reported an extremely strong smell of alcohol and said Clayton was largely unresponsive and unable to stand without support, the affidavit says. Medical staff at Oregon Health & Science University later reported that Clayton’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.556%, according to court documents. The building manager estimated repairs would cost $50,000, the documents say. Clayton’s license had been suspended for a misdemeanor, according to the court records. North Clackamas Schools confirmed Clayton works as a counselor at Happy Valley Elementary and said she is on leave following the arrest. A district spokesperson said the district could not comment on personnel matters and is committed to the safety and well-being of students and staff. Clayton could not be reached for comment. Clayton was also arrested after a three-vehicle crash in Portland on June 11. Court documents say a driver reported that her vehicle rear-ended his near Southeast Knapp Street and Southeast 92nd Avenue. A breath test reportedly showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.24%. That case remains open. In a separate case stemming from April 1, 2025, a witness reported seeing Clayton drive slowly before hitting a fence in Multnomah County. Medical staff later reported a blood alcohol concentration of 0.492%, according to court documents. The records also say Clayton told police she had consumed three drinks before driving. Court documents filed in May say Clayton had entered a substance-use-disorder program but was unable to complete it after a family death required her to be out of state for several weeks. Her next court appearance in the September case was scheduled for Oct. 13. The charges are allegations, and the cases remain subject to court proceedings.