Teacher Hospitalized After Drinking Soda Spiked With Poison : Schools: Authorities view the classroom incident as a misguided prank by an unknown student, not attempted murder. The victim is expected to be released today.

An Antelope Valley high school English teacher who became violently ill after drinking a soda laced with cleaning fluid is expected to be released from a Palmdale hospital today.

Susan Ennis, 32, felt a burning sensation in her throat and started vomiting during a class Thursday morning at Littlerock High School after taking a sip from an open can of soda she had placed near an overhead projector, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators said.

Ennis was immediately taken to Palmdale Hospital Medical Center. She was in good condition Friday, but was scheduled to stay a second night at the hospital for additional testing, according to hospital spokeswoman Cindy Reid.

Authorities are viewing the incident as a misguided prank.

“It doesn’t look premeditated,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Shreve of the Antelope Valley station. “We don’t think it’s an attempted murder.”

The soft drink had been sitting next to the projector near a bottle of cleaning fluid for at least two class periods, Shreve said. Authorities said they believe that a student poured the fluid into the soft drink, but have no suspects in the incident. The type of cleaning fluid was not disclosed.

Ennis, who has been a teacher at the school for two years, said she was unsure when she will return to the classroom.

“I just don’t know what to think,” she said Friday from her hospital bed. “I love teaching and I truly love all my students.”

She said she normally has good rapport with students and is often asked to work with teen-agers who do not get along well with other instructors.

“It’s a rough crew, but I really care about them,” Ennis said. “Maybe the person that did it didn’t realize how toxic it was.”

The district is offering a $200 reward for information about the poisoning.