BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF OREGON

In the Matter of the Teaching ‘

License of DOJ No. 583-001-GE0002-96

LORNA DEE HOCKETT, SURRENDER OF TEACHING
LICENSE, STIPULATION OF
FACTS, AND ORDER OF
REVOCATION

On or about September 30, 1996, the Teacher Standards
and Practices Commission (Commission) issued a notice of
Opportunity for hearing to Lorna Dee Hockett (Hockett) in which
the Commission proposed to suspend or revoke the teaching license
of Ms. Hockett, or otherwise impose discipline under ORS 342.177
based upon alleged misconduct, including conviction of felony

( theft.“ Ms. Hockett requested a hearing through her attorney,
Harlan Bernstein, on October 7, 1996. A hearing had been
scheduled to begin December 10, 1996 to consider the above-
identified matter.

The Commission and Ms. Hockett have now reviewed the
matter alleged and have agreed that their respective interests,
together with the public interest, are best served by a surrender
of Ms. Hocketts teaching license and a stipulation to certain
facts. In entering this stipulation, Ms. Hockett waives her right
to hearing. This agreement sets forth the facts upon which the
parties have agreed and the Commissions order accepting Ms.
Hocketts surrender of her teaching license and the revoking of

‘I her license.

x 2

Page 1 — SURRENDER OF TEACHING LICENSE, STIPULATION OF FACTS,
AND ORDER OF REVOCATION

. STIPULATED FACTS
Ms. Hockett agrees and stipulates that substantial
evidence exists in the record to support the following findings of
fact by the Commission:

1. Ms. Hockett commenced her teaching career in 1978 and
has been a teacher for approximately 18 years. Ms. Hockett was
employed by the Lincoln County school District and served as
treasurer of the Lincoln County Education Association (LCEA) from
1986 until her resignation in February 1996. Ms. Hockett has been
an above average teacher and an effective classroom teacher for
approximately 18 years.

2. From approximately September 1992 to January 1996, Ms.
Hockett took approximately $47,000 from the LCEA treasury and

. spent the funds for her personal use.

3. On February 9, 1996, LCEA President Richard Weisner
learned of a deficit in the LCEA checking account. On the same
day, Mr. Weisner contacted Ms. Hockett about the apparent deficit.
Ms. Hockett initially attributed the deficit to a bookkeeping
error and did not acknowledge that she had removed funds from the
account for her own purposes.

4. After being contacted by Weisner, Ms. Hockett attempted
to avoid discovery by trying to borrow money from a friend to make
up the deficit and by falsifying bank records of the LCEA.

5. Ms. Hockett subsequently admitted that she had removed
over $45,000 in funds from the LCEA accounts.

' 6. In April 1996 Ms. Hockett repaid $43,478 to the LCEA.
Page 2 - SURRENDER 0F TEACHING LICENSE, STIPULATION OF FACTS,
AND ORDER 0F REVOCATION

. 7. Based on the above, Ms. Hockett was indicted for the
crime of Theft in the First Degree, a Class C felony, and on May
24, 1996, she entered a plea of guilty to this crime.

8. On August 30, 1996 the Lincoln County Circuit Court
sentenced Ms. Hockett to 60 months probation subject to conditions
that she serve 60 days of electronic county home detention, that
she pay assessments and restitution in the sum of $3,507 and that
she perform 960 hours of community service.

9. Significant family, medical and psychological problems
contributed to Ms. Hocketts unprofessional behavior.

10. Ms. Hockett has no prior criminal history.

11. Ms. Hockett has successfully completed the 60 days of
electronic county home detention.

’ 12. Ms. Hockett is in the process of paying the assessments
‘and restitution and is currently performing community service.

13. This stipulation and the proposed order are contingent
upon approval by the full Commission at the Commissioms next
meeting. If the Commission does not approve this stipulation, the
matter will be returned for a hearing, neither the Commission nor
Ms. Hockett shall be bound by the matters in this stipulation.

SURRENDER OF LICENSE AND ORDER

The Commission accepts Ms. Hocketts voluntary surrender

of her Oregon teaching license. The Commission also revokes Ms.

Hocketts teaching license as provided under OAR 584-50-027(2).

Under ORS 342.175(3), any person whose license has been

. revoked may apply to the Commission for reinstatement after one

Page 3 - SURRENDER 0F TEACHING LICENSE, STIPULATION OF FACTS,

AND ORDER OF REVOCATION

. year from the date of revocation. If Ms. Hockett should apply for
reinstatement at some future date, the decision would lie within
the discretion of the Commissioners who consider the matter at
that time. Without limiting the discretion of future
Commissioners, it is expected that Ms. Hockett would demonstrate,
at a minimum, that she has completed her 60 days of electronic
county home detention, the payment of all court ordered
assessments and restitution, the 960 hours of community service;
that she has violated no other laws and has committed no acts
which would constitute a violation of professional standards under
OAR 584, Division 20, and that she has shown evidence of having
successfully completed counseling and/or mental health treatment
related to her unprofessional conduct.

. TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

1 , a
BY: fiaOAjA/‘J/j/ Mil-hm
mm

IT IS so STIPULATED: /-?//’;/?é
Approved as to form:

High M 7%
Harlan Bernstein J G. cKeever

Of Attorneys for Lorna Hockett ssistant Attorney General

O
Page 4 - SURRENDER 0F TEACHING LICENSE, STIPULATION OF FACTS,
AND ORDER OF REVOCATION

. CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
I hereby certify that I served the foregoing Order by mailing a true copy thereof,
certified by me as such, by U. S. Certified Mail, with Return Receipt Requested
addressed to attorney for Lorna Dee Hockett:
HARLAN BERNSTEIN
JOLLES, BERNSTEIN 81 GARONE, P.C.
721 SW OAK STREET
PORTLAND OR 97205-3791
Dated this g A“ day M" film 1996.
By; %u (/Z. $70M)
Charlene A. Smith
Secretaiy t0 the Commission
i
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