TOP STORYPamela Smart is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the killing of her husband in 1990. She convinced a student to do the dirty deed and he did with the help of two friends. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison. He is petitioning for a reduction in sentence. At the time of the murder, he was 15. Billy Flynn is now 33. Gregory Smart was 24 when Flynn shot and killed him. Pamela's woes in prison make you believe there really is justice. (New Hampshire)
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GUILTY PLEA - first-degree criminal sexual conduct
In Minnesota, Troy Michael Bernard, 35, a middle school teacher, pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for having sexual relations with a student for nearly a year, beginning when the girl was 14. He will be sentenced in January.
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ARRESTED - Sexual misconduct with a minor
A Kennewick, Washington teacher who resigned in 1998 and worked as a substitute in Kennewick schools was arrested, accused of two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor for sex with a 16 - 17 year-old male student. William Pickerel, 72, worked in the schools for over 40 years.
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ARRESTED - felony sexual-assault charges
He lives and works in Ohio and teaches in Columbus, but Jason Crary, 36, was arrested for sexual offenses alleged to have been committed in Milwaukee when he worked there in the 1990s. The boy's soccer coach as the school resigned three days ago when his past was revealed.
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RESIGNED
A Smiths Station High School teacher has resigned after being asked to to do so after allegations of inappropriate contact with a student. He has not been charged, but police and the school are investigating.
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VIOLATING TERMS OF HIS PROBATION
He was given probation in order to repay $100,000 he embezzled. He's only paid back $6,000. That puts Wayne Kruse in violation of the terms of his parole. Of course, the money was stolen from the Lawrence Education Association. The union doesn't seem to have minded that the former union president has made no restitution since 2005. (Kansas)
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Background checks are flawed - New Hampshire AP story
Among the findings, "Criminal and education records effectively sanitized through plea-bargains and other negotiations." Yeah. We observed that, too, in just about every state.
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North Jersey teacher sex arrests up
Thoughtful companion piece to the Associated Press series at the the Record.
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Teacher Misconduct Denied
By Herald Bulletin in Indiana. Teacher union officials are quoted extensively. And exclusively. Conclusion: misconduct is rare. We would spell out B.S. but we're family friendly, but it is B.S. We point out a lot of these "rare" misconduct cases.
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