The Franklin County Court of Appeals this week upheld the State Board of Education's permanent revocation of a teacher's license.
In that case, two teachers had held a Christmas party in an area of a school buidling was not authorized to by the principal. Two students began boxing, with the knowledge of the teacher. One of the students was struck, was severely injured, and nearly died. The two teachers then allegedly concocted a story that they thought would keep them out of trouble. The teachers allegedly told students to lie to the principal if asked.
The principal then began an investigation. He interviewed students who were present during the Christmas party. The students stuck to the teachers' allegedly concocted story. Later, however, one of the teachers confessed the true story. However, the other teacher stuck to the original story. Both teachers later resigned, and an investigator in the Department's Office of Professional Conduct, Kelly Beall, was assigned to investigate the matter. As a result of Beall's investigation, the Board issued the teacher a notice of its intent to determine whether to limit, suspend, or revoke his teaching license.
Pursuant to R.C. 119.07, the State Board of Education must hold a hearing if a party requests it within 30 days of the mailing of a notice of intent. The notice of intent informed the teacher of his right to request a hearing, and it warned the teacher that if he did not exercise this right, the Board could suspend, limit, or revoke his teaching license in his absence.
After the hearing, the hearing officer determined that the inadequate supervision of students, among other things, amounted to conduct unbecoming to the teacher's position, and that the Board had grounds to sanction the teacher under R.C. 3319.31(B)(1) and Ohio Adm. Code 3301-73-22. The hearing examiner recommended that the Board revoke the teacher's teaching license and render him permanently ineligible to apply for any license issued by the Board. The Board adopted the hearing officer's recommendation. The teacher then appealed both to the Court of Common Pleas, and to the appeals court, both of which upheld the revocation.
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Sounds like the teacher got a raw deal here. To have a Christmas party you need to get authorization first? It appears the students changed their story under pressure. A teacher today has LITTLE control over anything and is always in fear of their life and occupation. No wonder no one wants to become a teacher anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnother teacher it sounds like got a raw deal. Students get into fights EVERY DAY. So this fight just happened to be at a Christmas party that wasn't approved by the Principal....and probably got the principal upset because he/she wasn't invited. Students have all the rights...teachers NONE.
ReplyDeleteThe school board was in it's rights to terminate the teachers' licenses to teach because the showed conduct unbecoming of their teaching position. The case also involved immorality in that the teachers both lied and convinced the students also to lie about what happened. They also showed a total lack of supervison such as they were required by law and their contracts to administer during any school activity.
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