MINUTES. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION Two Piedmont Avenue Atlanta, Georgia July 13, 2017

Transcription

1 MINUTES PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION Two Piedmont Avenue Atlanta, Georgia July 13, 2017 The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) met on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. Members Present Danielle Bruce Lauren Eckman Leon Grant, III Rodney Green Dr. Isiah Hill, Jr. Scott Justus Members Absent David Smith Sheryl Stalvey I. WORK SESSION Henry Kelly Kamila Luigs Diane McClearen Dr. Jacqueline McDowell Amanda Miliner Teri Schneider Susan Thayer Beth Townsend Christy Van Meter Dr. Martha Venn Kelly welcomed new Commissioners Dr. Jacqueline McDowell, Beth Townsend and Danielle Bruce and had them introduce themselves to the Commission. Jimmy Jordan, Director of Membership for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) gave a presentation on Teacher Recruitment and the upcoming Future Georgia Educators Day sponsored by PAGE. Dr. David Hill gave a presentation on the Wallace Foundation Grant Program Report. Anne Marie Fenton and Chuck McCampbell gave a presentation on Ethics Assessment Data Review. Anne Marie Fenton gave a presentation on edtpa. Angie Gant presented the GaPSC Approval Decision Options that was proposed for adoption today. She addressed questions and concerns from Commissioners. Anne Marie Fenton presented the following rules for initiation addressed questions and comments: CLASSIFICATION It is proposed that GaPSC Rule CLASSIFICATION, dated January 15, 2016, be AMENDED to update the fields for which a Permit may be issued PERMIT It is proposed that GaPSC Rule PERMIT, dated October 15, 2016, be AMENDED to edit language for consistency from renewal to extension, add the requirement to complete the appropriate GACE Ethics Exit assessment as a requirement to extend the initial Permit, change the title of the permit from Educational Leadership to Superintendent, add an exemption option for the GACE Program Admission Assessment (PAA) and content assessment for the Superintendent permit, and remove the Retired Educator permit option ADD A FIELD

2 Page 2 It is proposed that GaPSC Rule ADD A FIELD, dated July 1, 2017, be AMENDED to update the GACE passing level required for adding a teaching field and outline the requirement for adding the Superintendent Certificate field to an established certificate in Educational Leadership EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE It is proposed that GaPSC Rule EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE, dated October 15, 2016, be AMENDED to update the title of the Superintendent permit and to add the Superintendent certificate requirement for individuals in that position SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATE It is proposed that GaPSC Rule SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATE be INITIATED with a new name and new number to create a certificate that will identify leaders currently serving as a superintendent THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR EDUCATORS It is proposed that GaPSC Rule THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR EDUCATORS, dated June 15, 2015, be AMENDED to consolidate the standards from eleven (11) to ten (10), including eliminating abandonment of contract as a separate standard, and adding the definition for breach of contract. Chair Luigs welcomed each new Commissioner to the Commission. She congratulated a) Dr. David Hill for receiving the state award for the GELFA organization (Georgia Educational leadership Faculty Association), b) Kelly Henson for being the recipient of the NASDTEC Distinguished Leader Award at the June meeting of NASDTEC, and c) Anne Marie Fenton on her appointment to serve as president of NASDTEC for and for being the recipient of the Doug Bates Award in October II. CALL TO ORDER Chair Luigs called the meeting to order at 1:11 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag and a moment of silence. III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Chair Luigs called for approval of the agenda. MOTION: (Scott Justus / Lauren Eckman) To approve the agenda. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Luigs called for approval of the minutes from the June 8, 2017, Commission meeting. PSC ACTION: Approved

3 Page 3 V. VISITORS Chair Luigs welcomed the visitors. Leonard Williams, Professional Association of Georgia Educators Jimmy Jordan, Professional Association of Georgia Educators Bettina Davies, Cauthorn, Nohr & Owen Paige Tompkins, UGA & Georgia Association for colleges of Teacher Education Stephanie Simeon Linda Fortson, Warren Fortson Law Office Don Splinter, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) Jim Barrett, former Commissioner Christy McGill and husband, former Commissioner Cindi Chance, Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education VI. RECOGNITION OF COMMISSIONERS Chair Luigs and Kelly Henson thanked Dr. Jim Barrett and Christy McGill for their service on the Commission and presented them with their photos taken at the beginning of their term. Both Commissioners spoke briefly to the Commission regarding their time and work on the Commission. Christy has served on the Commission since July 2011 and has served in an exemplary fashion on our Ed Prep/Certification Committee. Christy utilized her experience as an outstanding teacher to create a wellgrounded realistic approach to our work. Christy was a strong, stable voice on our Commission. Jim has served on the Commission since August 2014 and has done excellent work on our Educator Ethics Committee. Of particular note is Jim s excellent work on Ethics Modules for Pre-Service Teachers and on the Abandonment of Contract Task Force. Additionally, we will miss Jim s thoughtful questions. VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Ethics and Professional Conduct --Recommendations and Actions on Cases Chair Scott Justus of the Educator Ethics Review Committee (EERC), gave a preliminary review of the Cases. 1. Chair Justus reported that the Committee reviewed 67 Probable Cause cases during January 12, 2017, meeting and brought the following recommendations on behalf of the committee: CASE STANDARDS VIOLATED RECOMMENDATION ,5a7 Deny Deny ,5a2,5a7 Deny ,4 Reprimand Reprimand a7 NPC

4 Page 4 CASE STANDARDS VIOLATED RECOMMENDATION , 10 Suspension 20 days & 10 Suspension 20 days ,10 Suspension 45 days , 2, 10 Revoke & 10 Suspension 1 year ,5,10 Voluntary Surrender ,5,10 Voluntary Surrender ,4,9,10 Reprimand , 11 Suspension 90 days ,10 Suspension 90 days ,2,4,10,5a7 Revoke ,5,6, 10 Reprimand , 2, 4, 10 Revoke ,10 Revoke , 10,5a7 Suspension 1 year , 10 Suspension 20 days , 10 Suspension 2 years ,10 NPC , 10 Suspension 90 days ,9,10 Suspension 1 year , 5, 10 Suspension 1 year , 10 Suspension 90 days , 10 Suspension 20 days , 10 Suspension 30 days ,10, 5a7 NPC ,10,5a7 Suspension 1 year , 2, 10, 5a7 Revoke , 10 Suspension 60 days , 10, 4 Suspension 1 year , 10 Suspension 5 days ,10 Revoke , 5a7 Revoke , 10 Suspension 1 year , 10,5a2,5a5 Suspension 2 years ,2,10,5a2,5a5 Revoke , 10, 5a2 Suspension 20 days , 5a2,5a5 Suspension 20 days , 9, 10 Suspension 1 year , 9, 10 NPC , 10 NPC ,10,5a7 Revoke , 2, 10 Revoke , 10 NPC , 10 Reprimand

5 Page 5 CASE STANDARDS VIOLATED RECOMMENDATION , 10 NPC ,4,9,10 Suspension 20 days , 10 Suspension 1 year , 10 Suspension 20 days , 10 Suspension 1 year , 10 Suspension 20 days , 10 Suspension 1 year ,5,10 Suspension 90 days , 10 Reprimand , 10 Reprimand , 10 Reprimand , 10 Suspension 1 year , 10 Suspension 90 days , 10 Suspension 1 year ,4,9,10 Revoke ,4,9,10 Suspension 20 days ,4,9,10 Reprimand 2. Chair Justus reported that the Educator Ethics Review Committee reviewed 2 Petitions Issues and brought the following recommendations on behalf of the Committee: CASE PREVIOUS SANCTION EERC RECOMMENDATION Revocation Deny Revocation Deny 3. Chair Justus reported that the Educator Ethics Review Committee reviewed 10 Settlement Agreements and brought the following recommendations on behalf of the Committee: CASE SANCTION EERC RECOMMENDATION Revocation Accept Suspension - 1 year Accept Suspension - 20 days Accept Suspension - 30 days Accept Reprimand Accept Suspension - 5 days Accept Reprimand Accept Suspension - 45 days Accept Reprimand Accept Reprimand Accept

6 Page 6 4. Chair Justus reported that the Educator Ethics Review Committee reviewed 22 Negotiated Settlement Agreements and brought the following recommendations on behalf of the Committee: CASE NEGOTIATED SANCTION EERC RECOMMENDATION Suspension 2 years Accept Warning Accept Suspension 5 days Accept Suspension 30 days Accept Suspension 15 days Accept Suspension 30 days Accept Suspension 1 year Accept Suspension 30 days Accept Reprimand Accept Suspension 30 days Accept Suspension 90 days Accept Suspension 1 year Accept VS Accept Suspension 2 years Accept Suspension 43 days Accept Warning Accept Suspension 19 days Reject Suspension 90 days Accept Reprimand Accept Suspension 5 days Accept NPC Accept Warning Accept 5. OTHER BUSINESS The Educator Ethics Review Committee recommended approval of the Other Business Report as follows: CASE Findings of Fact EERC RECOMMENDATION Educator deceased Admin Closure No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application No info received from applicant Hold New Application

7 Page 7 6. The Educator Ethics Review Committee recommended approval of the Preliminary Investigative Determination Report consisting of 178 new complaints received during the months of June and July VOLUNTARY SURRENDERS The Educator Ethics Review Committee recommended approval of 4 Voluntary Surrenders listed below in which an Educator/Applicant voluntarily accepted a sanction of Revocation or Denial prior to the submission of an investigative case summary for a Probable Cause Determination. CASE STANDARDS VIOLATED EERC RECOMMENDATION , 5, 10 Accept , 5, 10 Accept , 4, 10 Accept , 10 Accept 8. EXTENSIONS PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE DETERMINATIONS The Educator Ethics Review Committee recommended approval of 65 Extensions - Preliminary Investigative Determinations consisting of the following: EXTENSIONS - INVESTIGATIONS The Educator Ethics Review Committee recommended granting an Investigative Extension to the following 358 cases: WRITTEN COMPLAINT EXTENSIONS

8 Page 8 WRITTEN COMPLAINT EXTENSIONS APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION REPORT The Educator Ethics Review Committee recommended to approve a no probable cause determination on 26 cases reflected on the Applications for Certification Report. 11. FINAL DECISIONS BY OPERATION OF LAW The Commission reviewed the report, which advised of 14 cases now closed without an appeal for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. The report also advised that there were 2 cases closed without an appeal for a review hearing before the Commission. 12. FINAL DECISIONS RENDERED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE

9 Page 9 The Commission reviewed the Final Decisions Rendered by an Administrative law Judge which consisted of the the 2 cases listed below. CASE ORIGINAL SANCTION ALJ SANCTION EERC RECOMMENDATION days 90 days Accept Deny Grant Accept Chair Luigs called for approval of the Educator Ethics Review Committee report as presented by Chair Justus. Abstentions: Teri Schneider , , , , , Amanda Miliner , , , Christy Van Meter , , Susan Thayer , , , , , , , , , , , , , Kami Luigs thru , thru , , , , , , , , , , , , Dr. Jacqueline McDowell, Beth Townsend, Danielle Bruce All Cases Probable Cause Case # MOTION: (Rodney Green / Scott Justus) To reject the EERC recommendation of a 20 Day Suspension and issue a 1 Year Suspension. Opposed: Henry Kelly Abstentions: Dr. Jacqueline McDowell, Beth Townsend, Danielle Bruce Probable Cause Case # MOTION: (Lauren Eckman / Scott Justus) To reject the EERC recommendation of a 1 Year Suspension and issue a Revocation. Abstentions: Dr. Jacqueline McDowell, Beth Townsend, Danielle Bruce B. The Educator Preparation/Certification Standing Committee did not give a report. VIII. APPROVAL DECISION OPTIONS Angie Gant presented the Approval Decision Options. MOTION: (Lauren Eckman / Scott Justus) To accept the GaPSC Approval Options document to be used for future approval decisions for EPPs and programs. IX. RULES Anne Marie Fenton presented the following: MOTION: (Lauren Eckman / Susan Thayer) To 1) initiate the current rules in Chapter Certification, effective October 15, 2017, as follows: ; (2) amend the current rules in Chapter Certification,

10 Page 10 effective October 15, 2017, as follows: , , , and ; and (3) amend the current rules in Chapter Educator Ethics, effective January 1, 2018, as follows: Abstentions: Dr. Jacqueline McDowell, Beth Townsend, Danielle Bruce X. ADJOURNMENT Chair Luigs called for the meeting to be adjourned at 1:33 p.m.