A Teacher’s Termination

Teachers are afforded the right to not simply beaffiliations also include case law, professional
dismissed on the basis of a desire by some entity.organizations and the school board policy.
Such a discharge must be founded on actual fact.Teacher termination can lead to litigation and a
The arbitrary termination of our nation's teacherssubsequent ruling by a judge to determine
is protected by federal and state regulations. Suchreinstatement of some sort. An administrator,
protection is compounded by the support ofJohn Doe, for example, was brought up on
professional teacher organizations that providecharges that he allegedly stole some money from
assistance to its members in order that theirhis students. He pled guilty to these charges and
livelihood is not compromised.received a deferred sentence and community
Educators of any discipline are granted the chargeservice as a result. However, it was apparent that
of providing instruction to those seeking tothe school superintendent was not satisfied with
matriculate through a planned program. Thisthis ruling. Consequently, the school board decided
responsibility is given to teachers through theto accept the superintendent's recommendation
successful completion of certification and licensureand terminate the tenured teacher's position. Mr.
applications. However, for varying reasons, thisJohn Doe retained his position as a tenured
obligatory directive can develop into less of ateacher but forfeited his position as an
responsibility and or subsequently a burden foradministrator.
some teachers. As such, a sense of despondencyOrganizations that support teachers who may find
may set in and reflect a specific scenario.themselves in predicaments that initially subject
As with any industry, teacher employmentthem to the possibility of a discharge from their
requires a certain degree of dedication in order toteaching positions include the American Federation
become successful. As such, one must assume anof Teachers and the National Education
amicable amount of decorum throughout hisAssociation. They provide recommendations as to
tenure in order to remain employed. However, ifwhat its members should do regarding suggested
this pact is infringed upon by way of indiscretionsplans of recourse to alleviate the tension
or the like, a teacher may find himself in asurrounding the potentiality of a dismissal or
predicament that warrants discipline. Moredischarge. Further, the teaching profession, as with
importantly, if the teacher fails to adhere to anyother industries, has safeguards that protect its
disciplinary actions to correct the indecorum, themembers from unlawful termination. This
likelihood of termination may result.profession has, again, federal and state regulations
The inability on the part of a superintendent tothat monitor and or govern the dismissal of an
remove a teacher considered being incapable ofeducator of any institution. Further assistance is
performing the duties of his profession with anygranted by other organizations that seek to
definitive level of zeal and or accomplishment canensure that the sustenance of our nation's
be linked to several procedural restraints oreducators is intact in an effort to circumvent the
adherences to state and federal laws andnotion of teacher terminations.
regulations, influences or applications. Such