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Columbus Dispatch's database of Ohio educators disciplined by the ODE

From an Oct 22, 2007 CyberJournalist.net posting :

The Columbus Dispatch kicked off a four-day investigative series Oct. 14, 2007 on Ohio’s flawed system of disciplining and tracking teachers, coaches, aides, counselors and administrators. In The ABCs of Betrayal, the newspaper also made available on its Web site a searchable database of Ohio educators disciplined since 2000.

The newspaper’s 10-month investigation found that a state and local discipline system allows educators in the classroom despite misconduct that includes theft, assault and abuse of children. Teachers' rights are often put first, districts don't always communicate with the state, and the Department of Education shields records of wrongdoing.

Since 2000, Ohio disciplined 1,722 educators, with two-thirds of those sent back to their classrooms or allowed to take teaching jobs. Theft was the most common reason for discipline with 405 cases, followed by assault or disorderly conduct with 341 cases, sexual misconduct with 292, and drugs and alcohol with 179.


Columbus Dispatch : Tracking teacher discipline :

The state's database, which The Dispatch obtained and is making available to the public, allows you to search for disciplined teachers by name, school district or ZIP code. The department maintains this database internally but does not provide a searchable version on its public Web site.

The records contain the type of discipline: denial, revocation or suspension of license; a written reprimand known as a "letter of admonishment"; or a "consent agreement" that requires steps to keep a valid license.

In addition, the records list the Education Department's limited description of the teacher's offense. Some say the details are "confidential by statute," although the state attorney general says the department is violating the state public-records laws by shielding some of the "confidential" information.

The department's data does not indicate when the misconduct happened or other basic details. It also does not indicate whether or when an educator fulfilled the terms of consent agreements.


A database search on school district name "Toledo" returned 46 records.


Kudos to the Dispatch for bringing information to the public that the ODE seems to want to keep hidden.

created by jr on Oct 28, 2007 at 08:40:42 pm     Comments: 1

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Via SwampBubbles, this Nov 2, 2007 WTOL story titled TPS board pres. responds to showing up in conduct databas :

Steve Steel spoke with News 11's education reporter, Tanieya Lewis. He was somewhat reluctant to talk, but in the end, Steel says he's taking responsibility for his past and looking ahead to the future. The top member of the Toledo school board is no stranger to the spotlight, often speaking out on issues that plague Toledo Public Schools. Once again, he speaking out...this time, in his own defense. "I've made mistakes outside my work as an educator, and I take responsibility for them."

A quick search of Toledo Public Schools revealed ten names with Steve Steel being one of them, listing a 2002 conviction for disorderly conduct by intoxication. "I was at a place that I had every right to be with friends. Some people got belligerent, and we got arrested, and that was that."

He says the incident actually happened in 1998 and that he'd finished teaching at TPS nearly a year and a half prior, but he still worked to get his license back. "I took responsibility, paid my fine, moved on. "


Teacher Discipline Database Results

Name: STEVEN C STEEL
Date of Birth: Aug 18 1962
School District: Toledo
Zip code: 43620
Offense description: DISORDERLY CONDUCT/INTOXICATION
Disciplinary action: Consent Agreement
Discipline date: November 2002

posted by jr on Nov 02, 2007 at 10:06:41 pm     #