Disqualifications for criminal history for NJ teachers

by RB

Jan 21, 2011

Hello everyone, I am hoping someone could help me. I have CEAS in the state of nj to teach art. I finished school in May 2009 with a Masters of art in Art education. However, it came to my attention August 2010 while applying for a job for the state of nj I have a disorderly person offense on my Criminal History Background Check from 1996, I trully was not aware of this because I thought at the time it was dismissed. ( i was 18 and extremely stupid). Needless to say I was not hired. I am in the process of getting it expunged. I am very confused and this is where I need help. IN 2004 I passed a Criminal History background check to become a substitute teacher in my county. My prints were again done in 2009 for a camp postion, they passed again... Fast foward to 2010 and there it was a disorderly persons offense! I talked to a lawyer who said that is not a crime.I talked to his secretary and she not to apply for any jobs until it's expunged. Today I talked to someone at Criminal History a...See More

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RB Yes it was a teaching job for the state of NJ dyfs children and families. I am really scared about applying for any teaching jobs because of that experience. They told me I lied. They ran 2 checks not sure which kind but they would not hire me because I checked NO on my application. They felt I was trying to pull one over on them. I tried calling a...See MoreYes it was a teaching job for the state of NJ dyfs children and families. I am really scared about applying for any teaching jobs because of that experience. They told me I lied. They ran 2 checks not sure which kind but they would not hire me because I checked NO on my application. They felt I was trying to pull one over on them. I tried calling a few districts but they do not know what is disqualifing and what is not. I don't want to put myself in any bad positions with a potential job. Does anyone know an education lawyer someone who knows this infomation. I feel the lawyer I am dealing with only wants to deal with the expungment and does not want to get invovled with anything else. I talked to a freind who said perhaps when I got my sub cert in 2004 they did not run a good check that is why it came up fine at the time. Is this possible? I am scared they will take away my certification for this. Thanks.

On 1/22/11, Steve wrote: > They are right, it isn't a disqualifying offense. Was this a > teaching job you applied for? Did they run their own > background check or did you volunteer the info? > > I would just check the box no. A school district will run your > prints and they seem to have come up clean in the past, so I > wouldn't worry about it. > > > On 1/21/11, RB wrote: >> Hello everyone, I am hoping someone could help me. I have >> CEAS in the state of nj to teach art. I finished school in >> May 2009 with a Masters of art in Art education. However, >> it came to my attention August 2010 while applying for a >> job for the state of nj I have a disorderly person offense >> on my Criminal History Background Check from 1996, I trully >> was not aware of this because I thought at the time it was >> dismissed. ( i was 18 and extremely stupid). Needless to >> say I was not hired. I am in the process of getting it >> expunged. >> I am very confused and this is where I need help. IN 2004 I >> passed a Criminal History background check to become a >> substitute teacher in my county. My prints were again done >> in 2009 for a camp postion, they passed again... >> Fast foward to 2010 and there it was a disorderly persons >> offense! >> I talked to a lawyer who said that is not a crime.I talked >> to his secretary and she not to apply for any jobs until >> it's expunged. Today I talked to someone at Criminal >> History and they said it was not a disqualifing offense to >> teach in NJ. >> I am so confused. Is it a crime or not? How do I check the >> box? If I check yes and explain will anyone hire me? What >> if I say no and it comes up again? does anyone know what I >> should do?

Jan 24, 2011

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Steve I'm no lawyer and certainly no expert on the matter, but it sounds like they ran a regular criminal background check which would show everything along with the background check the state DOE uses. In my experience, all districts run the same check based on your fingerprints. Here is a list of disqualifying offenses that the dept of education and al...See MoreI'm no lawyer and certainly no expert on the matter, but it sounds like they ran a regular criminal background check which would show everything along with the background check the state DOE uses. In my experience, all districts run the same check based on your fingerprints. Here is a list of disqualifying offenses that the dept of education and all the school districts use [link removed]

On 1/24/11, RB wrote: > Yes it was a teaching job for the state of NJ dyfs children and > families. I am really scared about applying for any teaching > jobs because of that experience. They told me I lied. They ran 2 > checks not sure which kind but they would not hire me because I > checked NO on my application. They felt I was trying to pull one > over on them. I tried calling a few districts but they do not > know what is disqualifing and what is not. I don't want to put > myself in any bad positions with a potential job. Does anyone > know an education lawyer someone who knows this infomation. I > feel the lawyer I am dealing with only wants to deal with the > expungment and does not want to get invovled with anything else. > I talked to a freind who said perhaps when I got my sub cert in > 2004 they did not run a good check that is why it came up fine > at the time. Is this possible? I am scared they will take away > my certification for this. Thanks. > > > > On 1/22/11, Steve wrote: >> They are right, it isn't a disqualifying offense. Was this a >> teaching job you applied for? Did they run their own >> background check or did you volunteer the info? >> >> I would just check the box no. A school district will run your >> prints and they seem to have come up clean in the past, so I >> wouldn't worry about it. >> >> >> On 1/21/11, RB wrote: >>> Hello everyone, I am hoping someone could help me. I have >>> CEAS in the state of nj to teach art. I finished school in >>> May 2009 with a Masters of art in Art education. However, >>> it came to my attention August 2010 while applying for a >>> job for the state of nj I have a disorderly person offense >>> on my Criminal History Background Check from 1996, I trully >>> was not aware of this because I thought at the time it was >>> dismissed. ( i was 18 and extremely stupid). Needless to >>> say I was not hired. I am in the process of getting it >>> expunged. >>> I am very confused and this is where I need help. IN 2004 I >>> passed a Criminal History background check to become a >>> substitute teacher in my county. My prints were again done >>> in 2009 for a camp postion, they passed again... >>> Fast foward to 2010 and there it was a disorderly persons >>> offense! >>> I talked to a lawyer who said that is not a crime.I talked >>> to his secretary and she not to apply for any jobs until >>> it's expunged. Today I talked to someone at Criminal >>> History and they said it was not a disqualifing offense to >>> teach in NJ. >>> I am so confused. Is it a crime or not? How do I check the >>> box? If I check yes and explain will anyone hire me? What >>> if I say no and it comes up again? does anyone know what I >>> should do?

Jan 24, 2011

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Jan Couldn't the NJEA give you the answers you need?

On 1/24/11, Steve wrote: > I'm no lawyer and certainly no expert on the matter, but it sounds > like they ran a regular criminal background check which would show > everything along with the background check the state DOE uses. In my > experience, all districts run the same check...See More

Jan 24, 2011

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rb I thought the NJEA could answer my questions as well, but they directed me to the state of nj. I also saw that post on keans website however when I called kean they didn't have any real answers for me either. All I know is this is becoming a bigger mess everyday. I am very fustrated and my lawyer is taking his sweet time in getting back to me.
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Jan 29, 2011

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Steve I answered your question. Anything listed in the Kean link would automatically disqualify you from a teaching job. The reason why you were able to get approved for subbing was because you were never convicted of anything in that link. That is what the state looks for when a school district runs your prints. Anything else is ignored. The reason the ...See More

Jan 30, 2011

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