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Missouri Teachers Chatboard

Can I teach / get a job?

by Bill

Jul 14, 2008

Hello and thank you in advance to anyone who can help. I am an adult college student studying to be a special education teacher. I recently reviewed the Department of Educations application for Missouri Teachers License and now have a great concern. Section D Professional conduct part A, of Section 1 asks “Have you ever been charged with, convicted or entered a plea, including a plea of nolo contendere, to any felony or misdemeanor whether or not sentence was imposed or suspended, except minor traffic violations?” I knew that a person who was convicted of a felony or who had plead guilty to a felony would likely not be able to teach but I was shocked to see that the application specifically asked if you had ever been charged with a crime. Several years ago, I was charged for a crime I did not commit. The criminal charges came from a complaint my former spouse made against me to the police while in the context of a highly contested divorce involving child custody. I was subsequently...See MoreHello and thank you in advance to anyone who can help. I am an adult college student studying to be a special education teacher. I recently reviewed the Department of Educations application for Missouri Teachers License and now have a great concern. Section D Professional conduct part A, of Section 1 asks “Have you ever been charged with, convicted or entered a plea, including a plea of nolo contendere, to any felony or misdemeanor whether or not sentence was imposed or suspended, except minor traffic violations?” I knew that a person who was convicted of a felony or who had plead guilty to a felony would likely not be able to teach but I was shocked to see that the application specifically asked if you had ever been charged with a crime. Several years ago, I was charged for a crime I did not commit. The criminal charges came from a complaint my former spouse made against me to the police while in the context of a highly contested divorce involving child custody. I was subsequently acquitted (unanimously found to be not guilty) and eventually a jury unanimously found my former spouse guilty of having made the criminal allegation against me while knowing at the time the criminal allegation was not true and for having done so with evil motive. Her allegation was not a mistake of any kind. (the court called this malicious prosecution for which she was found unanimously guilty). There is no way I can prove myself more innocent than this outcome. I have never plead guilty to a crime, I have never been convicted of any crime and have never been charged with a crime aside from this one horrible instance discussed above which I was cleared of. I read the Missouri State Statute having to do with teacher certification and it states that a teacher may be denied a license to teach if they have been convicted of a crime or have ever plead guilty to a crime. I could not find any language about having once been charged with a crime. However, I doubt the Department of Education is asking, on its application for initial certification, if I have ever been charged with a crime for no reason. I feel that I should answer the question in the affirmative because that is the true response according to the wording of the question and I am an honest person. I was innocent and was cleared of the charge and I feel that my simply answering the question in the affirmative may unfairly prevent me from obtaining a teachers license. Does anyone know if this would be the case? Also, I fear that my having to answer the question in the affirmative may prevent me from being able to find a good job. If I was an employing school district I would certainly be concerned about hiring a person who “had been charged with a crime”. An employing school district would have to be patient enough and open minded enough to hear my entire story (A story I would rather not even have to tell because it unfairly reflects negatively upon me) and review the jury verdicts, etc.. to understand that I was wrongly accused and have been vindicated. Do you think most schools will be willing to even consider me for employment? Thanks to all for taking the time to read my question and for any information you can provide.

and you should be fine. nfm On 7/14/08, Bill wrote: > Hello and thank you in advance to anyone who can help. I > am an adult college student studying to be a special > education teacher. I recently reviewed the Department of > Educations application for Missouri Teachers License and > now have a great concern. Section D Professional conduct > part A, of Sect...See MoreOn 7/14/08, Bill wrote: > Hello and thank you in advance to anyone who can help. I > am an adult college student studying to be a special > education teacher. I recently reviewed the Department of > Educations application for Missouri Teachers License and > now have a great concern. Section D Professional conduct > part A, of Section 1 asks “Have you ever been charged > with, convicted or entered a plea, including a plea of > nolo contendere, to any felony or misdemeanor whether or > not sentence was imposed or suspended, except minor > traffic violations?” I knew that a person who was > convicted of a felony or who had plead guilty to a felony > would likely not be able to teach but I was shocked to see > that the application specifically asked if you had ever > been charged with a crime. Several years ago, I was > charged for a crime I did not commit. The criminal > charges came from a complaint my former spouse made > against me to the police while in the context of a highly > contested divorce involving child custody. I was > subsequently acquitted (unanimously found to be not > guilty) and eventually a jury unanimously found my former > spouse guilty of having made the criminal allegation > against me while knowing at the time the criminal > allegation was not true and for having done so with evil > motive. Her allegation was not a mistake of any kind. (the > court called this malicious prosecution for which she was > found unanimously guilty). There is no way I can prove > myself more innocent than this outcome. I have never > plead guilty to a crime, I have never been convicted of > any crime and have never been charged with a crime aside > from this one horrible instance discussed above which I > was cleared of. I read the Missouri State Statute having > to do with teacher certification and it states that a > teacher may be denied a license to teach if they have been > convicted of a crime or have ever plead guilty to a > crime. I could not find any language about having once > been charged with a crime. However, I doubt the > Department of Education is asking, on its application for > initial certification, if I have ever been charged with a > crime for no reason. I feel that I should answer the > question in the affirmative because that is the true > response according to the wording of the question and I am > an honest person. I was innocent and was cleared of the > charge and I feel that my simply answering the question in > the affirmative may unfairly prevent me from obtaining a > teachers license. Does anyone know if this would be the > case? Also, I fear that my having to answer the question > in the affirmative may prevent me from being able to find > a good job. If I was an employing school district I would > certainly be concerned about hiring a person who “had been > charged with a crime”. An employing school district would > have to be patient enough and open minded enough to hear > my entire story (A story I would rather not even have to > tell because it unfairly reflects negatively upon me) and > review the jury verdicts, etc.. to understand that I was > wrongly accused and have been vindicated. Do you think > most schools will be willing to even consider me for > employment? Thanks to all for taking the time to read my > question and for any information you can provide. >

Jul 14, 2008

Robin I've been teaching in Missouri for a few years, when this background check came into being, some very good teachers lost their certification because of previous convictions and charges. I would ask the state department directly, you may not be allowed to get your certification. Here's another scenerio, I was charged with a misdemeanor. which should...See MoreI've been teaching in Missouri for a few years, when this background check came into being, some very good teachers lost their certification because of previous convictions and charges. I would ask the state department directly, you may not be allowed to get your certification. Here's another scenerio, I was charged with a misdemeanor. which should not be a problem. But I had to defend my teaching certificate because the state department thought my misdemeanor was "immoral turpitude". I went through a very messy divorce. These charges where not brought on by a background check, I just got a letter from the state department and a hearing date. I presented my case myself, I took legal documents, copies of court hearings that I received my misdemeanor from, it took a few months to hear from the state department but the charges where dropped. You have to educate yourself and what the law can and cannot do. Robin

On 7/14/08, Bill wrote: > Hello and thank you in advance to anyone who can help. I > am an adult college student studying to be a special > education teacher. I recently reviewed the Department of > Educations application for Missouri Teachers License and > now have a great concern. Section D Professional conduct > part A, of Section 1 asks “Have you ever been charged > with, convicted or entered a plea, including a plea of > nolo contendere, to any felony or misdemeanor whether or > not sentence was imposed or suspended, except minor > traffic violations?” I knew that a person who was > convicted of a felony or who had plead guilty to a felony > would likely not be able to teach but I was shocked to see > that the application specifically asked if you had ever > been charged with a crime. Several years ago, I was > charged for a crime I did not commit. The criminal > charges came from a complaint my former spouse made > against me to the police while in the context of a highly > contested divorce involving child custody. I was > subsequently acquitted (unanimously found to be not > guilty) and eventually a jury unanimously found my former > spouse guilty of having made the criminal allegation > against me while knowing at the time the criminal > allegation was not true and for having done so with evil > motive. Her allegation was not a mistake of any kind. (the > court called this malicious prosecution for which she was > found unanimously guilty). There is no way I can prove > myself more innocent than this outcome. I have never > plead guilty to a crime, I have never been convicted of > any crime and have never been charged with a crime aside > from this one horrible instance discussed above which I > was cleared of. I read the Missouri State Statute having > to do with teacher certification and it states that a > teacher may be denied a license to teach if they have been > convicted of a crime or have ever plead guilty to a > crime. I could not find any language about having once > been charged with a crime. However, I doubt the > Department of Education is asking, on its application for > initial certification, if I have ever been charged with a > crime for no reason. I feel that I should answer the > question in the affirmative because that is the true > response according to the wording of the question and I am > an honest person. I was innocent and was cleared of the > charge and I feel that my simply answering the question in > the affirmative may unfairly prevent me from obtaining a > teachers license. Does anyone know if this would be the > case? Also, I fear that my having to answer the question > in the affirmative may prevent me from being able to find > a good job. If I was an employing school district I would > certainly be concerned about hiring a person who “had been > charged with a crime”. An employing school district would > have to be patient enough and open minded enough to hear > my entire story (A story I would rather not even have to > tell because it unfairly reflects negatively upon me) and > review the jury verdicts, etc.. to understand that I was > wrongly accused and have been vindicated. Do you think > most schools will be willing to even consider me for > employment? Thanks to all for taking the time to read my > question and for any information you can provide. >

Jul 31, 2008

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