#teacher misconduct

This article contains affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. A Florida principal, Michael Townsend, has been arrested in connection with an investigation into a former teacher, James Mulvey, accused of inappropriate behavior with a student at Baldwin Middle-Senior High School. The case highlights critical lapses in reporting…

A former Purdy music teacher will lose his license to teach in Missouri after admitting he sent an inappropriate letter to a student, according to a settlement agreement reached with state officials.

Dalton Breshears, 28, who recently lived in Springfield, signed the 11-page agreement in April, which includes a partial copy of the letter. The pact signed in May by state officials, including a top official from the Office of Attorney General Eric Schmitt, is on the agenda for the June 15 meeting of the Missouri Board of Education.

Breshears, certified to teach K-12 instrumental music, taught at Purdy elementary and high school from August 2018 until his resignation on Jan. 10, 2019. Purdy is a 640-student district in Barry County. His class assignment included band, vocal music and guitar.

The handwritten letter sent in December 2018 starts with: "There are approximately 100 M&Ms in a box so I have written 100 reasons why I believe you are as special as your favorite candy!"

Examples of the letter cited in the settlement agreement include:

"20. You always look amazing even after gym class, it's like you sweat glitter or something."

"30. You're more fun than bubble wrap."

"31. Unless you were in bubble wrap…"

"32. Let's get some bubble wrap…"

"43. You make me nervous and give me the best kind of butterflies."

"45. I trust you fully and more than anyone in my life. I feel safe and real when I'm with you."

"46. You know who you are and who you are not, which is super sexy!"

Under state statute, the state board has the authority to discipline and the right to refuse to issue or renew a teaching license if there is "evidence of the certificate holder's incompetence, immorality or neglect of duty."

In the settlement, state officials pointed to excerpts of Breshear's letter as "evidence of his immorality." Breshears waived his right to a hearing and stipulated that the "factual allegations contained in this settlement agreement are true."

A review of online court records showed no charges pending against Breshears. Prior to Purdy, he worked in the Aurora district.

Breshears had a four-year content substitute certificate that expired in June 2017 and a four-year certificate in K-12 instrumental music that expired in May 2019.

The agreement asks the state board to revoke the certificate. Breshears, as part of the pact, agrees to surrender the certificate and not seek another certificate to teach in the state of Missouri.

If approved by the state board, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to maintain the settlement agreement as an open document that can be viewed by the public.

Nation’s disciplined teacher data to be audited state by state

Phillip Rogers, executive director of the private organization that runs the nation’s only database of disciplined teachers. (Photo: KUSA)

February 16, 2016

A state-by-state audit of the nation’s only database for tracking teacher misconduct is being ordered in the wake of an investigation that found thousands of missing names in the listing of troublesome educators.

Education agencies in every…

LAUSD Eliminates Teachers’ Rubber Rooms

  As reported by the L. A. Weekly, beginning May 27, 2014 teachers under investigation for misconduct by the L.A. Unified School District will no longer be placed in rubber rooms. Instead, teachers will remain home during school hours under house arrest.

…The district has, for years, kept hundreds of teachers at a time away from contact with students. Many have no idea what they’re being…