1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF OREGON
3 In the Matter of the )
4 Teaching License of ) DEFAULT ORDER
5 THOMAS GLENN GRIFFITH ) REVOKING LICENSE
6 )
7 On June 28, 1996, Walter J. Todd, Attorney for Thomas Glenn Griffith,
8 submitted Griffith's Oregon Teaching License to TSPC pursuant to a plea
9 agreement in Marion County Circuit Court. On August 5, 1996, the Teacher
10 Standards and Practices Commission informed Thomas Glenn Griffith that the
1 1 Commission found sufficient evidence of violation of Standards for Competent
12 and Ethical Performance of Oregon Educators to warrant a hearing regarding
13 his plea of guilty and conviction in Marion County Circuit Court on two counts
14 of Sex Abuse III. The letter and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing was mailed
15 U. S. Certified Mail--Return Receipt Requested to Walter J Todd, Attorney for
16 Griffith. The certified mail receipt #P 196 850 418 was signed on August 8.
17 1996 and received by TSPC on August 9, 1996. Mr. Griffith did not request a
18 healing.
19 FINDINGS OF FACT
2 1. Thomas Glenn Griffith holds a Standard Teaching License endorsed for
1.1 Physical Education and Health and valid from January 9, 1995 to March
22 6. 2000.
23 2. On or about June 18, 1996, Thomas Glenn Griffith plead guilty to two
24 counts of Sex Abuse III, five counts of Harassment for inappropriate
25 touching and one count of Official Misconduct II for touching students.
26 3. Griffith forfeited his teaching license to TSPC on June 28, 1996
27 pursuant to his plea agreement in Marion County Circuit Court. Under
28 ORS 342. 175, TSPC is required to revoke the teaching license of an
29 educator for conviction for Sex Abuse III and may revoke for offenses of
3O Harassment and Official Misconduct.
31 ULTIMATE FINDINGS OF FACT
32 On or about June 18, 1996, Thomas Glenn Griffith plead guilty to two counts
33 of Sex Abuse III, five counts of Harassment and one count of Official '
34 Misconduct as a result of inappropriate touching of students in his physical
35 education classes in Marion County Circuit Court.
PAGE 1—-DEFAULT ORDER--THOMAS GLENN GRIFFITH

‘ CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
2 Thomas Glenn Griffiths conviction for Sex Abuse III violates the Standards for
3 Competent and Ethical Performance of Oregon Educators, OAR 584—20-04O
4 and constitutes gross neglect of duty. Under ORS 342.175 the Commission is
5 required to revoke a license for conviction of this crime.
6
7 OPINION
8 The victims in this case were elementary students in the Salem-Keizer School
9 District. Griffith had contact with the students as the elementary physical
10 education teacher. Griffith acknowledge that between September 1994 and
1 1 May 1995 he touched four female students’ breasts and one male student's
12 penis. Any sexual contact with students constitutes gross neglect of duty
13 under TSPC Standards for Competent and Ethical Performance. The court
14 also determined that Mr. Griffith's actions constituted Official Misconduct II.
15 These findings above are grounds for revoking Mr. Griffith’s Oregon Teaching
16 License even if the requirement of revocation under ORS 342.175 did not
1 7 apply.
18 ORDER
19 The Commission accepts the surrender and revokes the Oregon Standard
Q Teaching License #281831 valid for physical education and health education
issued from January 9, 1995 through March 6, 2000, for conviction of the
22 crime of Sex Abuse III, Harassment and Official Misconduct II.
- » "1' £1 ,
23 Dated this ‘z / day of - *2‘ 12,,‘ 1996.
24 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
f " " " %' GIL J
25 By: @1 f//f fly"
26 David V. Myton, Executive Secretary
2 7 DVM / cs
. PAGE 2-—DEFAULT ORDER--THOMAS GLENN GRIFFITH

. CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
2 I hereby certify that I served the foregoing order by mailing a true copy thereof
3 certified by me as such by U.S. Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested to
4 Attorney for Thomas G. Griffith:
5 WALTER J TODD
6 835 LIBERTY STREET NE
7 SALEM OR 97301

*2

8 Dated this é 2 day of . I996.
9 By: 42A}

10 Ch lene A. Smi

1 1 Secretary to the Commission

. PAGE 3--DEFAULT ORDER--THOMAS GLENN GRIFFITH