Landing a job with misdemeanors on record

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North Carolina Teachers Chatboard

Landing a job with misdemeanors on record

by Curious

Jun 30, 2016

Hi, a person I know was offered a job with a school district in NC. The person had 2 misdemeanors in the past: a DWI (probation successfully completed) and a misdemeanor marijuana possession. Both occurred in states other than NC. Following these incidents, the candidate went through intensive outpatient rehab, private counseling, and successfully came out of what can be described as a dark time, successfully.

The person was honest on the applications when asked about prior criminal history, and, in fact, when offered a job, the person sent an email to the HR person to prepare for what would likely be found, emphasizing that successful rehab had been completed; letters from the rehab counselor were available, as well as exemplary references from student teaching mentors. Sobriety has been maintained for well over a year, and the candidate also expressed willingness to submit to whatever testing they might require. Candidate expressed the desire to be open and honest about pas...See More

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anon On 7/01/16, Staying positive wrote: > I don't know about the marijuana part because that is still > illegal at any age/all conditions etc. I can only speak to > the DUI (DWI). I do know people who have gotten teaching > positions who had one single DUI prior to teaching. There > is a spot on applications that ask for that and that is...See MoreOn 7/01/16, Staying positive wrote: > I don't know about the marijuana part because that is still > illegal at any age/all conditions etc. I can only speak to > the DUI (DWI). I do know people who have gotten teaching > positions who had one single DUI prior to teaching. There > is a spot on applications that ask for that and that is > where you do the explaining. > > I think the advice to approach HR with the long explanation > was not good advice. Absolutely your friend must be up- > front about the misdemeanors on the job application. It > will be asked and they must answer honestly. There is > usually a spot that says to explain it and/or attach any > helpful documentation. As long as your friend has done that > honestly on the application I would not advise that he/she > contact personnel with an open letter like that. Instead of > coming across simply as honest it makes it seem as though > the misdemeanors define him/her. > > As long as your friend has had a place to be honest on the > application and has done so I think it is Personnel's > responsibility to have looked that over and made the call > prior to interviewing the candidate. If there is no place > to inform potential employers of the misdemeanors then it > would be appropriate to inform them. I think your friend > went overboard on the explanation and not let it define > him/her. > > > > On 6/30/16, Curious wrote: >> Hi, a person I know was offered a job with a school > district >> in NC. The person had 2 misdemeanors in the past: a DWI >> (probation successfully completed) and a misdemeanor >> marijuana possession. Both occurred in states other than > NC. >> Following these incidents, the candidate went through >> intensive outpatient rehab, private counseling, and >> successfully came out of what can be described as a dark >> time, successfully. >> >> The person was honest on the applications when asked > about >> prior criminal history, and, in fact, when offered a job, >> the person sent an email to the HR person to prepare for >> what would likely be found, emphasizing that successful >> rehab had been completed; letters from the rehab > counselor >> were available, as well as exemplary references from > student >> teaching mentors. Sobriety has been maintained for well >> over a year, and the candidate also expressed willingness > to >> submit to whatever testing they might require. Candidate >> expressed the desire to be open and honest about past >> mistakes and emphasized that neither incident ever had an >> impact on student teaching/professional interactions. > These >> happened prior to the teaching field. >> >> Others in the candidate's life advised the candidate that >> the letter being open and honest about having had a rough >> patch while in grad school was better than waiting for HR > to >> come to the candidate. >> >> A week later, the job offer was withdrawn by HR. >> >> My question is: even though job applications state that >> prior legal entanglements-- (and I will remind you that >> these were misdemeanors, not felonies)-- is this > candidate >> realistically able to expect the same from most districts > in >> NC? >> >> I would appreciate hearing from administrators as well as >> teachers on this topic. >> >> Thank you.

It isn't the explanation that is the problem--it is having to put "yes" on those application questions. The person was lucky to have gotten as far as he or she did.

Jul 5, 2016

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anon On 7/02/16, clc wrote:
> Have you talked to a lawyer about an expungement? I am
> not a lawyer. In NC, I believe, a DUI conviction cannot
> be expunged but that differs from state to state. If both
> charges came from the same arrest, they both may count as
> one expungement.
>
> In NC, one expungement p...See More

Jul 5, 2016

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sped Quite honestly, it is very difficult to imagine anyone getting a job as a teacher in North Carolina with convictions for drug and alcohol related offenses. The South, in general, isn't the most forgiving of these things.

I have heard that California has a teacher shortage in some areas and they have laws that prohibit discriminating agains...See MoreQuite honestly, it is very difficult to imagine anyone getting a job as a teacher in North Carolina with convictions for drug and alcohol related offenses. The South, in general, isn't the most forgiving of these things.

I have heard that California has a teacher shortage in some areas and they have laws that prohibit discriminating against people with older, misdemeanor marijuana convictions. It is almost as if marijuana criminals are a protected class. I don't think that will help with the DWI, but it is something to look into either there or other hippie, progressive states.

Beyond that, this individual might look at some of the worst schools that have the most difficulty recruiting. I guess this individual has a teaching license, so they may take a shot on him/her.

On 6/30/16, Curious wrote: > Hi, a person I know was offered a job with a school district > in NC. The person had 2 misdemeanors in the past: a DWI > (probation successfully completed) and a misdemeanor > marijuana possession. Both occurred in states other than NC. > Following these incidents, the candidate went through > intensive outpatient rehab, private counseling, and > successfully came out of what can be described as a dark > time, successfully. > > The person was honest on the applications when asked about > prior criminal history, and, in fact, when offered a job, > the person sent an email to the HR person to prepare for > what would likely be found, emphasizing that successful > rehab had been completed; letters from the rehab counselor > were available, as well as exemplary references from student > teaching mentors. Sobriety has been maintained for well > over a year, and the candidate also expressed willingness to > submit to whatever testing they might require. Candidate > expressed the desire to be open and honest about past > mistakes and emphasized that neither incident ever had an > impact on student teaching/professional interactions. These > happened prior to the teaching field. > > Others in the candidate's life advised the candidate that > the letter being open and honest about having had a rough > patch while in grad school was better than waiting for HR to > come to the candidate. > > A week later, the job offer was withdrawn by HR. > > My question is: even though job applications state that > prior legal entanglements-- (and I will remind you that > these were misdemeanors, not felonies)-- is this candidate > realistically able to expect the same from most districts in > NC? > > I would appreciate hearing from administrators as well as > teachers on this topic. > > Thank you.

Jul 6, 2016

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anon Oregon has legalized marijuana, but I see no changes in the licensure regulations. You have any kind of criminal conviction, you aren't going to get a job teaching in the state. And yes, Oregon of all places now has a shortage of teachers.

I can't see the person ever getting hired as a teacher in any public school district anywhere in the ...See MoreOregon has legalized marijuana, but I see no changes in the licensure regulations. You have any kind of criminal conviction, you aren't going to get a job teaching in the state. And yes, Oregon of all places now has a shortage of teachers.

I can't see the person ever getting hired as a teacher in any public school district anywhere in the United States even now with real shortages of teachers.

On 7/06/16, sped wrote: > Quite honestly, it is very difficult to imagine anyone > getting a job as a teacher in North Carolina with convictions > for drug and alcohol related offenses. The South, in > general, isn't the most forgiving of these things. > > I have heard that California has a teacher shortage in some > areas and they have laws that prohibit discriminating against > people with older, misdemeanor marijuana convictions. It is > almost as if marijuana criminals are a protected class. I > don't think that will help with the DWI, but it is something > to look into either there or other hippie, progressive states. > > Beyond that, this individual might look at some of the worst > schools that have the most difficulty recruiting. I guess > this individual has a teaching license, so they may take a > shot on him/her. > > On 6/30/16, Curious wrote: >> Hi, a person I know was offered a job with a school district >> in NC. The person had 2 misdemeanors in the past: a DWI >> (probation successfully completed) and a misdemeanor >> marijuana possession. Both occurred in states other than NC. >> Following these incidents, the candidate went through >> intensive outpatient rehab, private counseling, and >> successfully came out of what can be described as a dark >> time, successfully. >> >> The person was honest on the applications when asked about >> prior criminal history, and, in fact, when offered a job, >> the person sent an email to the HR person to prepare for >> what would likely be found, emphasizing that successful >> rehab had been completed; letters from the rehab counselor >> were available, as well as exemplary references from student >> teaching mentors. Sobriety has been maintained for well >> over a year, and the candidate also expressed willingness to >> submit to whatever testing they might require. Candidate >> expressed the desire to be open and honest about past >> mistakes and emphasized that neither incident ever had an >> impact on student teaching/professional interactions. These >> happened prior to the teaching field. >> >> Others in the candidate's life advised the candidate that >> the letter being open and honest about having had a rough >> patch while in grad school was better than waiting for HR to >> come to the candidate. >> >> A week later, the job offer was withdrawn by HR. >> >> My question is: even though job applications state that >> prior legal entanglements-- (and I will remind you that >> these were misdemeanors, not felonies)-- is this candidate >> realistically able to expect the same from most districts in >> NC? >> >> I would appreciate hearing from administrators as well as >> teachers on this topic. >> >> Thank you.

Jul 9, 2016

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sped I assume this person got licensed somehow, someway. I don't now North Carolina's licensure restrictions on DWIs and Marijuana convictions because I don't have those to worry about. It may be possible to get licensed with misdemeanors, but getting a job? Highly unlikely, but you never know what might happen in a really bad district that is poorly ma...See MoreI assume this person got licensed somehow, someway. I don't now North Carolina's licensure restrictions on DWIs and Marijuana convictions because I don't have those to worry about. It may be possible to get licensed with misdemeanors, but getting a job? Highly unlikely, but you never know what might happen in a really bad district that is poorly managed and that is very desperate.

On 7/09/16, anon wrote: > Oregon has legalized marijuana, but I see no changes in the > licensure regulations. You have any kind of criminal > conviction, you aren't going to get a job teaching in the > state. And yes, Oregon of all places now has a shortage of > teachers. > > I can't see the person ever getting hired as a teacher in any > public school district anywhere in the United States even now > with real shortages of teachers. > > > > On 7/06/16, sped wrote: >> Quite honestly, it is very difficult to imagine anyone >> getting a job as a teacher in North Carolina with > convictions >> for drug and alcohol related offenses. The South, in >> general, isn't the most forgiving of these things. >> >> I have heard that California has a teacher shortage in some >> areas and they have laws that prohibit discriminating > against >> people with older, misdemeanor marijuana convictions. It is >> almost as if marijuana criminals are a protected class. I >> don't think that will help with the DWI, but it is > something >> to look into either there or other hippie, progressive > states. >> >> Beyond that, this individual might look at some of the > worst >> schools that have the most difficulty recruiting. I guess >> this individual has a teaching license, so they may take a >> shot on him/her. >> >> On 6/30/16, Curious wrote: >>> Hi, a person I know was offered a job with a school > district >>> in NC. The person had 2 misdemeanors in the past: a DWI >>> (probation successfully completed) and a misdemeanor >>> marijuana possession. Both occurred in states other than > NC. >>> Following these incidents, the candidate went through >>> intensive outpatient rehab, private counseling, and >>> successfully came out of what can be described as a dark >>> time, successfully. >>> >>> The person was honest on the applications when asked about >>> prior criminal history, and, in fact, when offered a job, >>> the person sent an email to the HR person to prepare for >>> what would likely be found, emphasizing that successful >>> rehab had been completed; letters from the rehab counselor >>> were available, as well as exemplary references from > student >>> teaching mentors. Sobriety has been maintained for well >>> over a year, and the candidate also expressed willingness > to >>> submit to whatever testing they might require. Candidate >>> expressed the desire to be open and honest about past >>> mistakes and emphasized that neither incident ever had an >>> impact on student teaching/professional interactions. > These >>> happened prior to the teaching field. >>> >>> Others in the candidate's life advised the candidate that >>> the letter being open and honest about having had a rough >>> patch while in grad school was better than waiting for HR > to >>> come to the candidate. >>> >>> A week later, the job offer was withdrawn by HR. >>> >>> My question is: even though job applications state that >>> prior legal entanglements-- (and I will remind you that >>> these were misdemeanors, not felonies)-- is this candidate >>> realistically able to expect the same from most districts > in >>> NC? >>> >>> I would appreciate hearing from administrators as well as >>> teachers on this topic. >>> >>> Thank you.

Jul 11, 2016

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