1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3 In the Matter of the ) STIPULATION OF FACTS AND

4 Teaching License of ) FINAL ORDER OF REPRIMAND

5 ) AND PROBATION

6 GARRY WESTON KOOP )

Z

9 On February 14, 2008, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission)
1O received information regarding possible inappropriate conduct by Garry Weston Koop (Koop), a
11 teacher in the North Wasco County School District No. 21.
12 After review of the matters alleged, Mr. Koop and the Commission agree that their
13 respective interests, together with the public interest, are best sewed by a stipulation to certain
14 facts and the imposition of a public reprimand and a four-year probation (with the possibility of
15 reduction to two years).
16 By signing below, Mr. Koop acknowledges, understands, stipulates, and agrees to the
17 following: (i) he has been fully advised of his rights to notice and a hearing to contest the
18 findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order set forth below, and fully and finally waives all
19 such rights and any rights to appeal or othenivise challenge this Stipulation of Facts and Final
20 Order of Reprimand and Probation (Stipulation and Final Order); (ii) this Stipulation and Final Q
21 Order is a public document and disclosed to the public upon request by the Commission;
22 (iii) this Stipulation and Final Order is contingent upon and subject to approval and adoption by
23 the Commission. If the Commission does not approve and adopt this Stipulation and Final
24 Order, then neither Mr. Koop nor the Commission are bound by the terms herein; (iv) he has
25 fully read this Stipulation and Final Order, and understands it completely; (v) he voluntarily,
26 without any force or duress, enters into this Stipulation and Final Order and consents to
27 issuance and entry of the Stipulated Final Order below; (vi) he states that no promises or
28 representation has been made to induce him to sign this Stipulation and Final Order; and (vii) he
29 has consulted with an attorney regarding this Stipulation and Final Order and has been fully

Page 1 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF REPRIMAND AND PROBATION - KOOP

1 advised with regard to his rights thereto, or waives any and all rights to consult with an attorney
2 prior to entering into this Stipulation and Final Order and issuance and entry of the Stipulated
3 Final Order below.
4 STIPULATION OF FACTS
5 1. The Commission has licensed Mr. Koop since September 22, 1993. Mr. Koop currently
6 holds a Standard Teaching License, with endorsements in Basic Social Studies and
7 Standard Handicapped Learner l, effective February 5, 2005 through February 4, 2010.
8 2. During the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years, while working in an assignment with
9 transition-aged (16-21) students with severe developmental disabilities, Mr. Koop
10 engaged in some conduct that, while not sexual in nature, may not have been
11 appropriate for their ages. For example, Mr. Koop played peek-a-boo with a student, sat
12 on the floor across from and rolled a ball with a student while their feet or ankles
13 touched, and played other similar “games” with students.
14 3. During the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years, while working in this same
15 assignment, Mr. Koop failed to always correct some student behaviors that should have
16 been more consistently corrected, such as failing, on some occasions, to correct a
17 student who reached to touch his beard, failing, on some occasions, to correct a
18 student's inappropriate gestures toward him, and failing, on occasion, to ensure that
19 students who sat too close to him moved away.
20 4. During the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years, while working in this same
21 assignment, Mr. Koop failed to encourage student independence by escorting some
22 students to the restroom rather than allowing them to walk to and from the restroom on
23 their own. Mr. Koop never entered the restroom stalls with these students and only
24 escorted them to and from the restroom to cue them to wash their hands and to ensure
25 that they went directly to and returned from the restroom.
Page 2 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF REPRIMAND AND PROBATION - KOOP

1 5. During the 2006-2007 school year, while working in this same assignment, Mr. Koop
2 used what he understood to be the “brushing” technique, in which the student is brushed
3 along the forearm, on a student with autism without having received proper training
4 regarding this sensory integration technique. ‘
5 6. Prior to the 2006-2007 school year, Mr. Koop worked in Alternative Education and
6 regular education settings. He had no prior experience working with students with
7 severe developmental disabilities.
8
9 IT IS SO STIPULATED:
1o £72 Z ) /£ i
11 _ a‘ i o Z Z j Z 02
12 G r K0 Date
ii M.” 11/1/1124 M
15 Victoria C . -- n, Executive Director Date
16 Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
17
18 CONCLUSION 0F LAW
19 Mr. Koop’s conduct as described above constitutes gross neglect of duty under ORS
20 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0010(5) (Use
21 professional judgment).
22 ORDER
23 The Commission hereby adopts and incorporates herein the above findings of fact and
24 imposes a Public Reprimand on Garry Weston Koop. This Order shall serve as the Public
‘ 25 Reprimand.
1 26 Furthermore, the Commission imposes a four-year probationary period upon Mr. Koop,
27 with the possibility of reduction to a two-year probationary period, subject to the following
28 conditions:
Page 3 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF REPRIMAND AND PROBATION - KOOP

1 1. By no later than December 1, 2009, Mr. Koop shall meet with an expert in the field of
2 Special Education for the purpose of evaluating what additional training, education,
3 and/or counseling Mr. Koop might benefit from to address the issues identified in this
4 Order. The expert must be acceptable to the Commission.
5 2. Mr. Koop will comply with any additional training, education, and/or counseling
6 recommendations the Special Education expert recommends.
7 3. Mr. Koop will, no later than May 1, 2010, provide the Commission with a report from
8 the Special Education expert outlining the expert's recommendations and Mr. Koop’s
9 compliance therewith.
1O 4. Mr. Koop will, no later than May 1, 2011, provide the Commission with a follow-up
11 report from the Special Education expert updating the Commission on Mr. Koop's
12 progress with and satisfaction of the expert's recommendations. If the expert
13 concludes that Mr. Koop is not likely to have similar issues to those identified in this
14 order and is otherwise properly trained to work with students with severe
15 developmental disabilities, the Commission will terminate Mr. Koop's probation
16 effective November 9, 2011.
17 5. Mr. Koop shall comply with the Standards for Competent and Ethical Performance of I
18 Oregon Educators under Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 584, Division 020.
19 ,
- Z"
20 Issued and dated this day of November, 2009.
21 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
22 STATE F GON
23 2% 3% i g é é f ‘
24 M/
25 ictoria Chamb , utive Director
Page 4 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF REPRIMAND AND PROBATION - KOOP