HOUSTON -- A teacher who was arrested during a random drug search returned to her classroom on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Houston Independent School District officials said Roberts Elementary School art teacher Mindy Herrick was arrested in January because she allegedly had two Xanax pills in her car and did not have proper documentation.

Tests have shown that Herrick was not on drugs, officials said.

Students gathered outside the school Monday morning to welcome Herrick back. They chanted and hugged her as she walked toward the building.

"It was unfair," one student said. "We had to suffer because we missed her, and art wasn't the same without her."

Students held a rally for Herrick last month. One student said she fought hard to get her teacher back in the classroom because she did not want to spend her last year at the school without her.

"I knew she would come back because she can't not come back," fifth-grader Annum Sadana said. "She's been with us and she's part of Roberts. It can't be Roberts without her."

Parents said Herrick has been a good role model and they knew from the beginning that there had to be some sort of misunderstanding.

"Ms. Herrick has been a fantastic teacher," parent Alyssa Hightower said. "I have three boys here, one with special needs, and she's always been so accommodating to all of them. To have her go away for the last few weeks has been very, very difficult on them. It's fantastic that she's coming back."

Herrick's ordeal is not over. Her case still has to go before a grand jury.

"The district is working to resolve all cases related to the recent district-wide drug searches as soon as possible," a Houston Independent School District representative said. "Two teachers were re-instated today, one at Yates High School and one at Roberts Elementary, following a review of their cases by HISD administrators and board members. All cases are reviewed individually based on HISD policy, separate from any legal action being taken by the D.A."

Herrick has taught at the school for 15 years. She has been the school's Teacher of the Year twice and was named Teacher of the Year in the central region district during the 2005-2006 school year.