State Board of Examiners ordered revocation of teacher’s Substitute Credential. Substitute teacher’s action of calling a student at her home, picking her up in his car and kissing her crossed a boundary that should exist between teacher and student. While substitute teacher claimed that student was infatuated with him as evidenced by the two notes she gave him, his failure to turn them in to school authorities undermined his credibility. Board of Examiners defers to ALJ’s determination of witness credibility. IMO the Credential of Bell, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners ordered revocation of teacher’s Substitute Credential. Teacher was convicted of Lewdness and was disqualified from public school employment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et seq. Teacher agreed to relinquish his Substitute Credential with the force and effect of a revocation and all attendant consequences. IMO the Credential of Egles,Exam. 2014: April 4
Teacher’s New York certificates were revoked because of inappropriate interactions with students as well as negligence in exercising her duties as a teacher. New York allegations included that she had engaged in inappropriate behavior with students, including improper personal, physical and/or intimate contact, improper communications and failing to assist a student in obtaining medical assistance after the student was injured. Teacher failed to respond to correspondence from the State Board of Examiners so that allegations were deemed admitted. Board is not restricted to behavior that takes place in New Jersey. IMO the Certificate of Elie, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners accepted teacher’s relinquishment of Teacher of Social Studies Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing. Teacher had been convicted of Unlawful Possession of Weapons-Rifle/Shotgun and was ordered to relinquish his Teacher of Social Studies Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing with the force and effect of a revocation and all attendant circumstances. IMO the Certificate of Hartman, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners revoked teacher’s Teacher of Elementary School Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing, Teacher of Spanish Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing, Teacher of Elementary School and Teacher of Spanish certificates, Principal Certificate of Eligibility, and a Supervisor certificate. Teacher pled guilty to Sexual Assault and was ordered to forfeit her teaching certificates. Haskell agreed to relinquish her certificates with the force and effect of a revocation and all attendant consequences. IMO the Certificates of Haskell, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners ordered revocation of employee’s School Social Worker’s certificate. Social Worker’s exposing his penis to a female teacher on school grounds, coupled with his unwelcome comments made to four other female staff members demonstrated that social worker repeatedly crossed a boundary that should exist between professional colleagues. While the ALJ, in recommending a two year certificate suspension, lauded the social worker for his interactions with students, he is responsible for his conduct as a whole. On balance, the State Board of Examiners found that his conduct warrants certificate revocation, rejecting the ALJ’s recommendation. IMO the Certificates of Holloway, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners ordered three month suspension of teacher’s Teacher of Nursery School and Teacher of Elementary School certificates effective immediately. SBE adopted ALJ’s decision that found that teacher had breached test security during the administration of the 2010 NJASK5 as alleged. Such action constituted conduct unbecoming a teaching staff
member warranting sanction. Teacher touched and pointed to students’ test booklets during the test, helped a student on questions regarding symmetry, helped a student by explaining the meaning of two math questions to him, helped a student by rewording questions and helped a student by answering her question with regard to how something should be worded. Such actions constituted a clear violation of test security protocols set forth in the Test Security Agreement. IMO the Certificates of Kelley, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners suspended teacher’s Teacher of Art Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing and Teacher of Art Certificate pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings against him. Teacher was indicted on charges of Endangering the Welfare of Children, Luring or Enticing a Child, Sexual Assault, Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, Official Misconduct, Attempted Endangering the Welfare of Children and Attempted Official N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et. seq. The Board may revoke or suspend the certification of any certificate holder on the basis of demonstrated inefficiency, incapacity, conduct unbecoming a teacher or other just cause. N.J.A.C. 6A:9-17.5. In enacting the Criminal History Review statute, N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et seq. in 1986, the Legislature sought to protect public school pupils from contact with individuals whom it deemed to be dangerous. Individuals convicted of crimes such as Endangering the Welfare of Children, Luring or Enticing a Child, Sexual Assault, Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, Official Misconduct, Attempted Endangering the Welfare of Children and Attempted Official Misconduct fall squarely within this category. The Commissioner’s long-held belief is that teachers must serve as role models for students. In this case, the teacher has an indictment for crimes that directly involved danger to children. If the charges are resolved in the teacher’s favor, the teacher may apply to the SBE for appropriate action. IMO Certificates of Reilly, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners suspended, with the consent of the teacher, teachers’ Teacher of Music Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing, and Teacher of Music certificate pending resolution of the criminal charges filed against him. IMO Certificates of Scheck, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners revoked teacher’s Teacher of Physical Education certificate. Teacher had surrendered his teaching certificates in New York after allegations that teacher had made a sexual proposition to a 17 year-old student. Teacher had informed student that she could pass his class by performing “extra credit”; having sex with him. SBE determined that teacher’s conduct constituted conduct unbecoming a certificate holder. The Board may revoke or suspend the certification of any certificate holder on the basis of demonstrated inefficiency, incapacity, conduct unbecoming a teacher or other just cause. The Board is not restricted to behavior that takes place in New Jersey in determining whether that person is fit to teach in this state. IMO the Certificate of Stern, Exam. 2014: April 4
State Board of Examiners revoked teacher’s Teacher of Social Studies certificate, Teacher of Elementary School certificate, Supervisor certificate, Principal Certificate of Eligibility, and Principal certificate. Teacher pled guilty in federal court to Possession of Child Pornography, disqualifying himself from public school employment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et seq.
In enacting the Criminal History Review statute, N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et seq. in 1986, the Legislature sought to protect public school pupils from contact with individuals whom it deemed to be a danger. Individuals convicted of a crime such as Possession of Child Pornography fall squarely within in this category. The strong legislative policy statement is also in accord with the Commissioner’s long-standing belief that teachers must serve as role models for their students. In this instance, teacher’s conviction for Possession of Child Pornography demonstrates behavior that falls far short of a role model. The strong policy statement on the part of the Legislature set forth in N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1(b) also offers guidance to the Board as to the appropriate sanction in this matter. An individual whose offense is so great that he or she is barred from service in public schools should not be permitted to retain the certificate that authorizes such service. Nor should a person who has been disqualified from teaching in a public school be permitted to continue to hold himself out as a teacher. Accordingly, the Board believes that the only appropriate sanction in this case is the revocation of his certificates. IMO the Certificates of Sysock, Exam. 2014: April 4