Misconduct Reporting

July 19, 2007 - Found in an Albuquerque Tribune story about the voyeurism teacher in New Mexico.

The state has new laws that require school district officials to report allegations of teacher misconduct to the bureau to prevent the movement of problem teachers around the state. In the past, some districts have hired teachers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked.

In 2006, two Albuquerque educators lost their licenses after investigations into misappropriation of funds and sexual relations with a student.

The bureau conducted more than 100 investigations in 2006, revoked the licenses of 17 educators and suspended three others. The 20 actions set a three-year high, which state officials said reflected a tougher stance on teacher misconduct.

Districts are not notified of actions against a teacher's license until after the teacher is on the job. License checks are done on the 40th, 80th and 120th day of school, state officials said.

TT - What they don't tell you is that ten of the 17 involved sex crimes, pornography and sexual relationships with students. As of November 2006, the department's Ethics Bureau was investigating 104 cases of teacher misconduct. "Those include 27 cases carried over from 2005." TT - LINK

It's worth following education stories in New Mexico.
TT - LINK and LINK