Friday, November 30, 2007

Swift firing of psychologist from teaching position restores School Board confidence

Apparently the Volusia County School Board has had a recent string of bad publicity due to their own screwups, misdeeds, and general incompetence. So the opportunity to do something to do their job, and also improve their reputation was a welcome relief. From the Daytona Beach News Journal.

Volusia County School Board members said Thursday they support the firing of an Atlantic High School teacher after a past fraught with lawsuits, allegations and a sex scandal was exposed to school officials.

They also believe it's a one-of-a-kind case.

Connie Reynolds, 52, of Ormond Beach was hired this summer to teach biology, anatomy and physiology at Atlantic after working as a substitute the previous year. On Tuesday, she lost her job, a job she loved, leaving her "reeling," she said by telephone Thursday.

"I did . . . exactly what I was supposed to do," she said.

On her job application she checked "yes" to a box asking whether she ever had a professional license revoked.

Three years ago, the Montana Board of Psychology effectively ended Reynolds' 20-year career as a clinical psychologist when it confirmed an administrative law judge's determination that she had an inappropriate relationship with a client, according to reports in the Billings (Mont.) Gazette.

But Volusia school district personnel assigned to scrutinize her application never asked her why she had lost her license. Had they known it involved an inappropriate relationship with a client, Reynolds would not have been hired, said Nancy Wait, a district spokeswoman.

Several board members contacted Superintendent Margaret Smith and other district officials with concern. They said they were pleased with the administration's response.

An additional set of eyes will review teacher applications before hiring is complete, board member Candace Lankford said. "This isn't a pattern," she said.

Board Chairman Al Williams also called Smith on Thursday.

"I feel confident we don't have any other situations like this," he added.

Of four board members interviewed, Williams -- a former school personnel director -- was the only one who raised questions about Reynolds' firing.

"This person did something wrong when she was in Montana. Do you continue to punish her when she comes here?" he said. "If it wasn't anything toward a child . . . she made a mistake. You give her two or three probationary periods to make sure."

But he later said he wasn't questioning the call to fire Reynolds, adding it's a "tough decision."

Other board members expressed empathy for Reynolds, but qualified it.

"By the same token, my first concern is the students. If she as a mature person had an inappropriate relationship, that's a red flag," board member Judy Conte said.

Reynolds said she does not believe she has any legal recourse over the firing. State law allows a school district to terminate a teacher without cause within the 97-day probation period.

Reynolds said she was still hopeful Thursday that a school district somewhere might be willing to take a chance on her, adding that she had an excellent evaluation.

"Every day, I woke up and said, 'I get to do something where I'm loving everything I did,' " Reynolds said. "I was a good teacher."

In addition to convincing another school district to hire her, Reynolds could face another hurdle. Cheryl Etters, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said she could not comment on the status of Reynolds' temporary teaching certificate, citing a statute that refers to an "investigation" that must be kept confidential.

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