Teacher License

Why revoking a teaching certificate is nearly impossible.

Flowchart of what happens when a complaint is filed with the Professional Practices Services in Florida.

On the other hand, a question found in a FAQ was "I have a criminal offense record. Will that delay the issuance of my certificate?" Answer:

Before any certificate is issued by the Bureau of Educator Certification, your fingerprints must be processed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). If the results of that processing reflect a criminal offense record, the records must be reviewed by Professional Practices Services. Issuance of the certificate is contingent upon the results of that review. Therefore, applicants with a criminal history do have a longer processing time.

TT - Maybe if you applied after you got out of jail, it might be faster.

Maryland

August 1, 2007 - A Maryland senator is planning to introduce a bill that would require School systems throughout the state to be informed when teachers face allegations of sexual or violent crimes, The teacher's license would be flagged.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Only one of the 25 members of the state Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board voted for the regulation when it came up.

“The large number, the majority of these cases result in no finding, so they were concerned with identifying and tarnishing [suspects’] professional reputation, or causing an adverse reaction, when they are innocent,” [assistant state superintendent for certification and accreditation John] Smeallie said.

Timothy Gounaris was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sexual crimes this month, only after being forced to resign from Harford and Baltimore county school systems because of criminal sexual allegations.

TT - County school officials asked the Maryland State Department of Education to revoke Gounaris’ teaching certificate, and it did — but not before he was hired to teach eighth grade at Chinquapin Middle School in Baltimore. TT - LINK for Gounaris.

Shame on the Maryland Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board. Tarnishing a reputation is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than protecting children.

Also see Don't Move to Maryland TT - Link
See teacher hired despite drug convictions TT - Link
See student forced to confront teacher TT - Link
See volunteer coach coerced girl to commit prostitution TT - Link

Two-thirds of Baltimore students do not graduate. About 4,000 students in Baltimore are educated in charter schools, while more than 80,000 students attend traditional public schools. In order to handicap the charter schools, Baltimore City Public Schools paid the charter schools less than what they give traditional public schools. The Maryland Supreme Court ruled 7-2 school boards must give charter schools the same amount of money as traditional public schools.

Gloucester, MASSACHUSETTS

RANT

UPDATED to discuss newspaper editorial on the need to fire teachers convicted of felonies.

July 24, 2007 - A school can't fire a teacher who was sentenced for her fourth DUI. The school district doesn't have a policy for dealing with convicted employees, and they probably never will since collective bargaining would likely be required because the grounds for termination are laid out in each union's contract.

Kathleen Burley, 47, was the teacher who kicked one officer in the groin, bit another and had to be wrestled to the floor. She was sentenced to 4 1/2 years and 10 years' probation. TT - LINK She was found guilty of three counts of assault and battery on a police officer. Despite all that, the school claims they can't fire her. The responsibility is, apparently, on the Massachusetts Department of Education.

TT - It's up to the Massachusetts Department of Education to revoke her license, but don't expect much. They found no cause to revoke the teaching license of a Weymouth health education teacher who was convicted of his fifth drunk driving conviction last December. TT - LINK

UPDATE July 25 - The Gloucester Times editorial ("Felony policy needed in schools") on the need to adopt a school policy that would "state that felons have forfeited their right to work in the local schools." They write:

This is particularly important regarding alcohol abuse. Alcoholism is a disease, but drunken driving is a crime.

School leaders regularly tell students that there will be harsh consequences for drinking and driving. That message will be lost if students see that such consequences don't apply to faculty.If anything, the standards for teachers ought to be higher.

They are supposed to be setting an example for students.

TT - The editorial board of the Gloucester Times doesn't link to the collective bargaining agreement between their school committee members and the Gloucester Teacher's Association. Nor, the Gloucester Policy Manual, also online, that clearly states in Section note GBEC that

disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with contracts negotiated by the Gloucester School Committee with the bargaining unit representing the employee.

Source: Policy Manual PDF Section G pg 5

The bargaining agreement includes this proviso: "Teachers shall not be officially reprimanded, officially disciplined, dismissed reduced in rank or compensation, or denied a salary increase of any kind without just cause." Pg 37 B1

Just cause is explained here.

In other words, they can't fire a teacher who is convicted of a felony without the express consent of the union, who, otherwise, can file a grievance and can tie the school board, school and school administrators in legal tangles that could last months. Or years.

Grosse Point, MICHIGAN

July 24, 2007 -

"This is a long-standing problem," former school board member Cindy Pangborn said of Bowen's behavior. "We don't reward bad behavior in our students. Why should we reward bad behavior in our faculty?"

A hearing will likely determine if Ellen Bowen, choir director at Grosse Pointe South High School, retains her teaching license.

The district drew up a behaviorial improvement plan in 1999. Her personnel file includes at least three reprimands and three suspensions. She was suspended after a conviction last month of misdemeanor assault and battery for a 2006 road rage incident involving a former student where even the judge pointed out ""She admitted that she intentionally struck the car to teach a lesson." The assault might have been the last straw.

New laws require a state hearing for teachers convicted of assault, to review whether they should continue to hold a teaching license.

September 5, 2007 - Bowen was suspended for one month and will be allowed back in the classroom in October. She's been suspended with pay since May. In a signed agreement, Bowen indicated she would not seek any further action or grievance and accepted the disciplinary action.

Sept 27 - Bowen has refused to sign a discipline agreement with the state that calls for a six-month suspension because of a road rage incident. She is appealing the action from the state Department of Education that also threatens the loss of her teaching certification if she faces any new discipline.

In August, the district suspended Bowen without pay from her $92,000 a year job because of the road rage suspension.

Jan 28, 2008 - Fighting her suspension.

Michigan law says the state Department of Education must review the certificate of any teacher convicted of certain offenses such as assault or a sexual offense. The department’s initial ruling, which Bowen is appealing today, included a six-month suspension on her license and requirements that she take anger management classes and send her performance evaluations to the MDE, among others.

Bowen has disputed many of the incidents for which she has been disciplined or the circumstances surrounding them. Her 2 1/2-inch thick personnel file includes several letters in which she asks that complaints be removed.

APPEAL DENIED Feb 13 - Bowen was denied in her appeal of a road rage conviction stemming from a 2006 incident. Wayne County Circuit Judge Carole Youngblood ruled Friday there were no prejudicial errors in her initial trial in Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court. Bowen could appeal Youngblood's decision or ask the court to reconsider.

ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING DECISION Feb 28 - A state administrative law judge recommended that Grosse Pointe South High School choir director Ellen Bowen’s teaching certificate be suspended, but also said she could retain her teaching certificate "for the limited purpose" of teaching in Grosse Pointe Public Schools. He thought she showed no signs of being rehabilitated.

"In my view, Ms. Bowen has an anger management problem," Ward wrote in a ruling dated last Friday. "Ms. Bowen's off campus conviction appears to be related to her school related disciplines."

He also thought that "there is a strong likelihood that she will continue to use unprofessional language in front of students, parents and staff."

Next ping-pong volley: The recommendation goes to the state Superintendent Michael Flanigan, who will make the final decision about Bowen's certificate. Flanigan can accept Ward's recommendation or he can make an entirely different decision.

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

Kansas City, MISSOURI

As long as the revocation isn't equally anonymous... (They frequently are.)

May 24, 2007 - The Center School District is seeking revocation of the teaching license of an unnamed teacher alleging that he sent sexually suggestive text messages to a female student.

He resigned in mid-April after the parents contacted authorities. Police and state social-service authorities are also investigating. No evidence of a sexual encounter. No charges have been filed. Plenty of clues: He's 30, previously taught in Texas, was in his first year with the Kansas City school district. He has been teaching for 8 years.

One good thing: The Superintendent said the district was planning to stress to teachers at the start of next year the dangers presented by communications technology, including social-networking sites.

June 20 - The teacher is STILL unnamed. Prosecutors declined to prosecute. He resigned from the school, and the district is seeking revocation of his license.

Columbus, OHIO

Three years, two schools later, a domestic violence sentence, and girls afraid of being left alone with him, authorities finally figure out he shouldn't be teaching. Are they quick, or what???!!!

May 16, 2007 - Student complaints began in Nov 2004. Paul J. Grimes, 34, a Columbus School District teacher, was formally reprimanded in Feb 2005 for his sexual comments, then moved to another high school for "a fresh start."

He remained in the new school until girls there complained to the principal that Grimes was "constantly putting his private parts in the faces of the girls in the classroom" while walking from desk to desk. The principal's notes say girls feared being left alone with him.

The district suspended him and he resigned in February 2006. Now the State Board of Education has taken his teaching certificate. He will not be teaching in Ohio again.

The same day he was reprimanded by the district in February 2005, he was arrested. He was charged with rape, abduction and two counts of domestic violence against his wife. That July, Grimes pleaded guilty to a felony domestic-violence charge. He was sentenced to community service, counseling and three years of supervision.

By then, he was being moved to Walnut Ridge. The district says it didn't know about the crime while he was teaching.

The Ohio Department of Education, by law, must revoke the license of teachers who are convicted of or plead guilty to some offenses, but domestic violence isn't one of them. If a teacher shows that he or she has been rehabilitated after a domestic-violence conviction, the law allows them to try to get a license again.

Murfreesboro, TENNESEE

Dealing with a mad parent can really ruin your day.

Mar 21, 2007 - Nalin White, 29, a Siegel High School teacher, entered a a no-contest plea to three counts of soliciting a minor. He surrendered his teaching license.

Under terms of the plea, he was placed on supervised probation for 35 months and 27 days. according to the mother. In addition, he can't have contact with the victim, and he must undergo a psychological evaluation and abide by the recommendations.

The girl accused White of asking her if she was interested in having sex with a teacher between 26 and 28 years old. She told her mother about the conversation, and the mother complained to Siegel High Principal Ken Nolan that night.

The mother then notified the Schools Director and other central office administrators the next afternoon to look into what happened. The parent then asked the Sheriff's Office to investigate five days later, and Gill suspended White without pay that same day.

The girl's mother said she was glad her daughter pursued the complaint.
"She had been harassed at school, but she knew she did the right thing by coming forward," the mother said.

TT - It took five days for school authorities to remove the teacher from the classroom where he could be in contact with his victim. The mother had to go to the police to make something happen. What does this tell you about the first concern of some schools?

Mar 30 - County schools director Harry Gill, Jr., terminated Nalin White with a letter dated March 26. When he entered his plea on March 20, White also surrendered his teaching license.

SENTENCED and LAWSUIT - July 23 - White was sentenced and received probation and surrendered his teaching license. The mother of the victim has filed a lawsuit against White and the school principal and the school board.

Tonganoxie, KANSAS

Feb 7, 2007 - The Kansas Board of Education has revoked the license of Tonganoxie Elementary School principal Jerry Daskoski.

Daskoski resigned in December citing the need to spend more time with his wife and family. However, Daskoski's license was revoked Jan 9 in light of felony theft charges filed against him in Nov 2005 in Wichita. The revocation included Daskoski's license to teach elementary school and work in school administration throughout Kansas.

Daskoski was arrested and placed on $2,500 bond, after which he entered into a diversion agreement. (In Kansas, when a person complies with the diversion agreement and completes the terms of it, the criminal charges are dismissed and the person is not convicted of a crime.) He was fired one day before completing the diversion agreement.

He said he has been under the care of a mental health professional for obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic attacks and depression. During that time he took prescribed medications for his conditions.

Daytona Beach, FLORIDA

Jan 24, 2007 - Jessica Lloyd, a Seabreeze High teacher and dance coach, has had her teaching license suspended for a year over a 2004 incident where she allowed five girls to stay overnight.

Lloyd was charged with allowing five dancers to stay at her one-bedroom apartment the night before a summer competition. Her boyfriend also spent the night, according to a school district investigation, and two other men visited during the evening, all drinking beer in the girls' presence.
The girls told investigators Lloyd left them alone with the two male visitors while she and her boyfriend went out to buy more beer.

Her contract was not renewed at the end of the 2004-05 school year.
Incredible poor judgement.

Licensing

The Albuquerque Tribune reports that the state Department of Education is working to speed up the process of revoking teaching licenses. The process started earlier this year and "to date, the department has revoked the licenses of 17 educators and suspended three others.." Ten of the 17 involved sex crimes, pornography and sexual relationships with students. Compare that effort with previous efforts.

The cases investigated by the department's Ethics Bureau have increased significantly since 2004 when there were only five revocations and one suspension. In 2005, there were eight revocations and four suspensions. The department has plans to add an in-house investigator to handle the increasing caseload instead of hiring private investigators.

New Mexico, unlike many states, does not require districts to report allegations to the state Department of Education. A bill that would require principals and superintendents to report their investigations of teacher misconduct to the state will be introduced in January.

Currently, the department's Ethics Bureau is investigating 104 cases of teacher misconduct, CdeBaca said. "Those include 27 cases carried over from 2005."

The New Mexico Department of Education site is a model of efficiency and completeness. Educator Ethics is a prominent link on first page and the Ethics Bureau Services pages are comprehensive. The only complaint might be that the Ethics Newsletter is dated April 2006. It seems to be the only one ever written.