‘ 16/q9/199B 82:18 541-839- 65 541 839 6185 HDLLAWAY INS/TF 'cL /r3"98 12*“ '85” 3Q 5"" DOJ/EUGENE k 12mm mum PAzEqu/loos l STATE OF OREGON 2 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 3 In the Matter of the ) 4 Teaching License of ) STIPULATION AND 5 SUSAN LYNNE WILLARD i ORDER OF SUSPENSION 6 On May 20, 1998, the Teacher Standards and Practices 7 Commission (Commission) issued of Notice of Opportunity for 8 hearing to Susan Lynne Willard in which the Commission proposed 9 to suspend or revoke Ms. Willard's Oregon teaching license or to 10 impose other discipline under 0R5 342.177. Thereafter Ms. 11 Willard requested a hearing through her attorney, Elizabeth l2 McKsnna. The Commission and Ms. Willard have now reviewed the 13 issues connected with this proceeding and have determined that 14 their respective interests and the public interest are best t '15 served by a stipulation to certain facts and a suspension of Ms. 16 Willard's Oregon teaching license. In entering this stipulation, 17 Ms. Willard waives her rights to a hearing and understands that 18 the Commission will impose a sanction that includes suspension of ' l9 her teaching license for a period through Msy lS, 1999. 20 __ FINDINGS OF FACTS 21 22 Ms. Willard and the Commission stipulate as follows: 23 24 1. Ms. Willard holds a basic Oregon teaching licence with 25 endorsements in elementary education and reading. 26 ' ‘ Page l — STIPULATION AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION 541 839 6165 v» 16/69/1998 62:16 541-939.65 N“ t __ wwHULLQwAV INS/TwL PAGE 62 _ ’ 103101190 12:50 1350:: e 5110 DOJ/EUGENE <¢BENN51THARTKAN Iona/00$ . 1 2. Ms. Willard was employed as a teacher with the South 2 Umpqua School District from September 1987 until June 3 10, 1998, when she resigned her position with the 4 district. 5 3‘ Early in her tenure with the South Umpqua School 6 District, Ms. Willard began working as a volunteer with 7 the Canyonville Parent Group, an organization that B raises money and provides support to the Canyonville 9 Elementary School. During the period prior to January 10 .1998, Ms. Willard served as treasurer to the 11 organization. 12 4. Between December 1995 and January 1998, Ms. Willard 13 converted funds belonging to the Canyonville Parent 14 Group without the knowledge of the organization, and . 15 she used the funds for personal purposes. 16 5. In January of 1996. members of the Canyonville Parent l7 Group learned of a shortage ot funds in the 18 organization's account, and they brought the matter to l9 the attention of the school district. At that time, 20 Ms. Willard acknowledged that she had misused the 21 fund-B- 22 6. On February 25, 1998, Ms. Willard entered into a I 23 repayment agreement with the Canyonville Parent Group 24 in which she agreed to repay the sum of $2,856.85 25 according to a scheduled payment» arrangement. 26 Page 2 — STIPULATION AND ORDER 0F SUSPENSIW O Q O . i Since that time, Ms. Willard has made timely payments 2 as required under the repayment agreement. 3 7. In February 1998, Me. Willard entered a counseling 4 program with Kristin Bezdek, M.S., Mental Health 5 Specialist with the Douglas County Mental Health 6 Department.. Ms. Bezdek submitted a report to the 7 Commission indicating that Me. Willard has had a a compulsive gambling disorder secondary to a diagnosis 9 of depression. Ms. Bezdek stated that Ms. Willard’: 10 conversion of. the funds was directly related to her ll compulsive gambling disorder. Ms. Bezdek {urther 12 reported that Ms. Willard has abstained from gambling 13 activities and has made good progress in her counseling ‘ l4 program. lS 8. During her employment with South Umpqua School 16 District, Me. Willard received favorable evaluations, 1'7 and she had not previously been'the subject of any 18 complaint or disciplinary proceeding before the 19 Comiasion. 20 /// 21 /// 22 /// 23 /// 24 /// 25 26 7 ' . Page 3 - STIPULATION AND omen or susPBNsION , 16/59/1998 @2115 541tB39‘5 5323839 61% HULLAWAY INS/T'L PAGE a4 ‘ . _ mun/as 12:51 use: m 5110 3% animmum _ , - ** BENNETT RAW loos/cos O 1 ’ This stipulation and order is contingent upon approval of 2 the full Commission- If the Commission does not approve the 3 stipulation, the metter will be returned to the Commission for ' q further action, and neither Ms. Willard nor the Commission shall ' S be bound by any statements contained herein. 6 W” M 2M '7 us Lynne W‘ ard Date B \L/ // r 9 Devi V. M ton Date Executive Director 10 Teacher Standards and Practices Commission 11 12 CONCLUSION OF LAW l3 Me. Willard converted funds to her own use belonging to the ‘ 14 Cenyonville Parent Organization in violation of OAR 584-020- 15 0040 (4) (b) . 16 ‘ l7 DISCUSSION 18 Ms. Willard's conduct involved dishonesty directly related 19 to her professional responsibilities. Accordingly, the 20 Commission considers-‘this matter a serious violation oi 21. professional standards, requiring suspension of Ms. Willard’: 22 teaching license for a period of. approximately six months. In 23 selecting a sanction, the Commission take into account the 2a following mitigating circumstances: (1) Ms. Willard has e. 25 flavor-able teaching record of, approximately eleven years; (2) Ms- 26 Willard has agreed to make restitution for the misappropriated . Page 4 - STIPULATION AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION _' 10/‘69/1998 02:18 541-839‘5 Ejdajisj'ai HULLAwAY INS/T‘L_ PAGE @5 - . "1101/98 12:52 asoa m 51" DOJ/EUGENE -~~ BENNFFI‘ mmN @001/003 O l funds and has already repaid most of the funds; and (3) Ms. 2 Willard's misconduct was due at least in part to a compulsive 3 gambling problem for which she has received treatment and has 4 made considerable progress. 5 . s ORDER ‘ 7 The Oregon teaching license of Susan Lynne Nillard shall be 8 suspended for a period commencing with the date of this order 9 through May 15, 1999. Upon expiration of the period of 10 suspension, Ms. Willard's license shell be reinstated, upon ll app] ination and payment of the, reinstatement fee, and it she has 12 complied with Commission standards under OAR 584 Division 020, 13 has abstained from all gambling activities and has complied with ‘ 14 the terms of the repayment agreement with the Canyonville Parent 15 Group dated February 25, 1998. ' 16 Upon reinstatement of her license, Ms. Willard shall be 17 placed on probation tor a period oi one year subject to the 19 conditions that she comply with ell standards for competent and I 19 ethical performance of Oregon educators under OAR 584. Division 20 020, that she abstain from all gambling activities and that she 21 comply with the repayment agreement dated February 25, 1998- 22 Failure to comply with any condition o! probation shall 23 constitute e basil alone for disciplinary action, up to and 24 /// 25 /// ' 26 /// . Page S - STIPULATION AND ORDER OP SUSPENSION 1 . 541 939 61215 la4u9/1999 92-15 541_839 ' ‘ ' 5 HULLANAV . 1 mm,“ 12,52 use: 3'85 so: 346 5778 INS/TiL PAGE as . ' 4 577‘ “OJ/EUGENE ~- ssms'rr mm 1310021002 l including revocation of Ms. Willard's teaching license, and 2 subject to Ms. Willard's right to a hearing on the issue of 3 whether or not she has violated s condition of probation. A Ml geié-cb s DATED this '2' day of We, 1996. We‘ 6 Dew/a‘, 7 I 8 / 7/! ‘{2}? David V. Myton Date 9 Executive Direct r Teacher Standards and Practices Commission 10 ll 12 APPROVED AS TO FORM: l3 /f' %M@ 4M Z/flf ‘ 14 s izs th McKanna Date of Attorneys for 15 Susan Lynne Willard 16 BMW-“.5 l7 ‘LB l9 20 ‘ t 21 v 22 23 24 25 . 26 . Page 6 - STIPUL-ATION AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION