Update: Former psychologist loses teaching job over news of her sexual misconduct

A quick update from Montana TV station KTVQ

A former Billings psychologist who had her Montana license revoked after being accused of having inappropriate relationships with patients has lost her teaching job in Florida.

Constance Reynolds, 52, recently settled a lawsuit in Montana and agreed to pay an $800,000 settlement to the mother of one of her patients who is now deceased. The lawsuit had accused Reynolds of having an affair with the patient.

She had been teaching biology at a high school in Port Orange, Florida, but lost her job this week after officials there learned about her revoked license in Montana.

We also have this report from a local Florida newspaper reports. This one from the Orlando Sentinel

A rookie Volusia County teacher found herself unemployed Wednesday after officials discovered that she had once lost her psychologist's license in Montana following accusations of improper relationships with patients.

Constance Reynolds, 52, began teaching honors biology at Atlantic High in Port Orange this semester. Two weeks ago, she settled a lawsuit in Montana, agreeing to pay $800,000 to the mother of one of Reynolds' deceased patients. The lawsuit accused Reynolds of having an affair with the patient, according to published reports.

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"Had we researched this and found out what we know now, we would not have hired her," Wait said. "It's a question of morality and ethics."

Reynolds passed a criminal background check and has on her record only a 10-year-old DUI from Montana, to which she pleaded no contest, according to her application.

Reynolds, who was earning $39,903 annually, was in a 97-day probationary period for new teachers. The School Board is expected to approve her termination at its Dec. 11 meeting. Reynolds was notified after school Tuesday after media inquiries called the district's attention to the situation.

Reynolds told the Orlando Sentinel that she had been honest on her application, which is why the firing took her by surprise.

"I didn't think it was going to be a problem," she said. "I thought I could make a difference in kids' lives."

Reynolds' moved to Central Florida, where she has family, about 2005 and worked briefly as a substitute teacher in Volusia last semester before being hired full time.

She was a psychologist in private practice for 12 years in Billings, Mont., but offered no references from that state, writing, "I do not have any contact with any of my former clients or colleagues in Montana."

This one from the Daytona Beach News Journal

When she was hired to teach science at Atlantic High School in August, Connie Reynolds escaped a nightmarish career disintegration far, far away.

Her past caught up with her this week.

Volusia County school district officials fired Reynolds after learning from the news media why she was stripped of her license to practice psychology in Montana, said Nancy Wait, a district spokeswoman. They also acknowledged a mistake in hiring her.

In 2003, Reynolds -- then working as a clinical psychologist in Montana -- was accused of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female patient who later died in her care.

Reynolds denied the allegations but later lost her license. The patient's mother filed suit, claiming Reynolds improperly gave medications that led to her daughter's death. Reynolds settled the case earlier this month for $800,000, the Billings Gazette reported.

A tipster, Ken Kramer of Tampa, contacted The Daytona Beach News-Journal and other media organizations recently. Kramer is a board member of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a Scientology-affiliated organization that investigates and exposes psychiatric missteps.

Atlantic High Principal Ron Pagano fired Reynolds on Tuesday without cause because she had not yet completed her 97-day probation period.

Reynolds, 52, of Ormond Beach was making $39,903 annually to teach biology, anatomy and physiology.

When she applied for her job, she checked a box indicating she has had a license revoked. The application asked for the type of license and what state issued it but not why it was revoked. Reynolds, who noted on the application she has had no contact with any of her former clients or colleagues in Montana, said no one asked her about it during the hiring process.

Wait said the school district would not have hired Reynolds had it known about the allegations in Montana. Wait added the box marked "Yes" should have raised red flags.

"We should have done some further inquiries," she said, adding Superintendent Margaret Smith has met with personnel and professional standards staff to make sure procedures are in place to avoid such hiring mistakes in the future.

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