SENTENCED (sorta)If you consider 3 years probation and sex offender treatment and a $1,000 fine for three counts of forcible sexual abuse, all second-degree felonies for sex with a 17-year-old boy punishment, then Christy Brown, 33, was sentenced. (Utah)
As we said, "Three years probation, a $1,000 fine and sex offender treatment. Why not just give her a Teacher of the Year Who Violates a Student Achievement award?"
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SENTENCED (sorta)
Joshua Jacobsen, 31, got 9 months in jail - not prison - and lifetime probation. He will also have to register as a sex offender. He was arrested last year, accused of abusing one of his students beginning when she was just 13. He wants to "move forward." (Arizona)
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GUILTY VERDICT - felony first-degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor child endangerment
We were outraged when he was arrested. The mother was told that David Heil, 43, would never teach again by the school district. However, school administrators and the teachers union negotiated a deal that eventually sent him to another school. When the mother found out in 2006, she went to police. A jury found David Heil guilty. Assistant District Attorney Douglas Randall, who told jurors during his summation that school officials double-crossed the boy's mother and lied to her. But you absolutely won't believe what the school district says.
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ARRESTED - firearms on school property
The story is so incomplete that you are left with more questions than answers. Danny Hoover, Jr., 36, principal of Wirt County Middle School, was arrested for bringing firearms to the school. It didn't make sense to us either. We're looking for more stories.
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ARRESTED - Sex with 14-year-old student
In Van Nuys, California, Merideth Vincent, 40, a teacher of a private home schooling group, was arrested, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old male student. You got to be desperate to hit on kids.
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ARRESTED - giving students pain prescription drugs
Barbara Trotta, 38, a special education teacher in Oregon, was arrested, accused of giving three students students prescription pain pills and allegedly excused at least one student from class and allowed that student to use her personal vehicle to pick up additional drugs.
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CHARGED - domestic violence
Every time we post a story about a teacher who is arrested and accused of drunk driving or domestic violence we get e-mail protesting that it doesn't affect his job. Our reply is that he can be the greatest teacher in the world, but students know about the arrest. And what they will learn from how school authorities respond will constitute an important life lesson. (Pennsylvania)
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JUDGE REJECTS PLEA AGREEMENT
There are good judges in this country. In Indiana, a judge rejected a plea agreement that would have allowed John Watts, 28, to plead guilty to one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a felony, and receive a sentence of six years in prison with all suspended, be placed on probation for six years and serve one year of home confinement. He had been charged with 23 counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and they have his confession on tape as well as an admission to having sex with another student. Did we mention the girl was 14-years-old?
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SPECIAL PAY PLAN for TEACHERS - doing their job
In Iowa, the state Supreme Court ruled that that school districts will have to bargain with teachers who work "a full load of classes." That means anyone who actually teaches over -- a whole five hours a day -- must be given extra compensation. Absolutely absurd.
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WATCHING THE WATCHERS who definitely need watching
In Virginia, the Associated Press is pleased to report, the state Department of Education is, based on an Associated Press investigation, going to look to tighten teacher licensing system. Looking at the system, apparently, doesn't include looking at the one place responsible for license revocation - the state Department of Education.
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SCHOOL BOARD WATCH
A grand jury indictment has led to the arrest of former school-board president, Keith Crego, 37, and the former superintendent, Leslye Abrutyn, 58, on a combined 22 felony charges and 21 misdemeanors. It's a great story of sex, corruption, disgraceful inaction, and the reporter seemed kinda fascinated by what these people wore to court.
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