Good follow-up story.
Jan 17, 2008 - WHOI ABC 19's Jessica Wheeler wanted to know if the accusations could hurt Illini Bluffs principal's chance of getting another job as an educator and how it would affect any background checks that might be run on him in the future. He was acquitted of raping a 20-year-old girl.
We spoke with the Tazewell County Regional Superintendent of Schools- who told us- only convictions show up in background checks- not charges.That's good journalism. TT - Link for Walker
He says applicants do not have to disclose if they've been accused of a crime.
"The only thing that would show up if he were to go to apply for another position in a different county other than peoria, he would have to transfer his teaching certificate and his administrative certificate to that county and then on that form he would have to answer- has he ever been convicted of a felony- and he would put down no- he had never been convicted and that's the only questions they would ask when he went to transfer his certificate," said Tazewell County Regional Superintendent of schools Rob Houchin.
The superintendent also told us many districts go above normal background checks and call former co-workers of an applicant. That could hurt an accused teacher's chances.
