l BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3

4 In the Matter of the ) DEFAULT ORDER OF

5 Educator License of ) REVOCATION OF

6 BLAKE CAMERON WATKINS ) OF RIGHT TO APPLY

7

8 On March 27, 2013, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission)

9 issued a Notice 0f Opportunity for Hearing to Blake Cameron Watkins (Watkins) in which the
10 Commission charged him with Gross Neglect of Duty. The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class
l l Mail and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 7012 1010 0003 2804 2124 to the address on file with the
12 Commission. The Notice designated the Commission file as the record for purposes of proving a
l3 prima facie case. The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing, dated March 27, 2013, and signed by
l4 Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director, stated:
15 “IF A REQUEST FOR HEARING IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIS 21-DAY PERIOD,
16 YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING SHALL BE CONSIDERED WAIV ED UNLESS YOUR
l7 FAILURE TO REQUEST A HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR REASONABLE CONTROL.
13 IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING OR IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT A
l9 HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN ORDER OF DEFAULT WHICH MAY
20 INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE OR OTHER
21 DISCIPLINE,”
22
23 The certified mail was returned to the Commission “Unclaimed”, the first class mail was not
24 returned and assumed delivered. Watkins did not request a hearing. The Commission, therefore,
25 finds Watkins to be in default and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions 0f law, and
26 final order, based on the files and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
27 FINDINGS OF FACT
28 1. Watkins was initially licensed by the Commission 0n May, 18, 2009. Watkins’ Initial
29 Teaching License, with endorsements in Biology (HS, ML); Chemistry (HS, ML); Multiple
30 Subjects (MIDLVL); ESOL (ML/ HS, ECE/ELE); Physics (HS, ML); Integrated Science (HS,
31 ML); and Special Education (ML/ HS, ECE/ELE), was issued May 18, 2009, and expired on
32 November 18, 2010. During all relevant times, Watkins was employed in the State of Texas.
33 The Commission retains jurisdiction over Watkins‘ licensure status for a period of five years
34 after expiration.
3 5
36 2. On April 2, 2013, the Commission was notified by the National Association of State Directors
37 of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) clearing house that on February 8, 2013,
38 Watkins was disciplined by the Texas Education Agency. The information received by the

. 39 Commission reveals that Watkins’ Texas Teaching Credentials were revoked. The Texas
PAGE 1-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY — WATKINS, BLAKE CAMERON

1 revocation was a result of Watkins’ criminal conviction 0f “Unlawful Restraint”, a Felony in
2 Texas and equivalent to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 163.235, Kidnapping in the First
3 Degree, also a Felony.
4 3. The Commission conducted an investigation and learned that 0n or about February 15, 2011,
5 Watkins started an altercation with his live-in girlfriend. Reports indicate Watkins threw
6 objects at her, struck her with a belt, strangled her and pointed a loaded shotgun at her. The
7 victim escaped Watkins by jumping out a second story window, fracturing a vertebra in her
8 back. Charged with multiple felonies, Watkins settled his criminal case by pleading guilty to
9 “Unlawful Restraint” on July 5, 2012.
10 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
11 Watkins’s conduct as described above constitutes gross neglect of duty in violation of
12 ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-02o-oo4o(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584—020-0010(5) (Use
13 professional judgment); OAR 584-020-0040(1)(d) (The Commission will deny, revoke or deny
l4 the right to apply for a license 0r charter school registration t0 any applicant or educator who,
15 has been convicted of any of the crimes listed in ORS 342.143, or the substantial equivalent of
I6 any of those crimes if convicted in another jurisdiction or convicted of attempt to commit such
l7 crimes as defined in 161.405. Evaluation of substantially equivalent crimes or attempts to
18 commit crimes will be based on Oregon laws in eflect at the time of the conviction, regardless
19 of the jurisdiction in which the conviction occurred: Kidnapping in the First Degree); OAR
2O 584~020-oo40(4)(o) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0035(3)(a)(Maintain the dignity of the
21 profession by respecting and obeying the law, exemplifying personal integrity and honesty).
22 This conduct also constitutes gross unfitness in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(c); OAR 584-020-
23 0040(5)(a)(Rev0cation, suspension or denial of a license by another state for reasons and
24 through procedures that are the same as, 0r substantially equivalent t0, those permitting
25 similar action in Oregon); and OAR 584-020-0040(5)(e) (Admission 0f or engaging in acts
26 constituting criminal conduct, even in the absence of a conviction).
l 27 According to OAR 584-050-0006(3)(d), The Executive Director may deny issuance of a
. 28 license, certificate 0r registration, renewal of a license, certificate or registration; or
29 reinstatement of a license, certificate or registration under the conditions set forth in subsection
30 (3); Notice of denial and right to a hearing may be issued by the Executive Director when any of
31 the following conditions exist: (d) The Executive Director has evidence that the applicant may
32 lack fitness to serve as an educator. The conduct leading t0 your criminal conviction also fails to
33 establish fitness t0 hold a teaching license in Oregon as provided under ORS 342.143(2) (good
PAGE 2-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY — WATKINS, BLAKE CAMERON

1 moral character; mental and physical health as the Commission may required to establish
2 fitness).
3
4 The Commission’s authority to impose discipline in this matter is based upon ORS 342.175.
5
6 FINAL ORDER ‘
7 The Commission hereby revokes Blake Cameron Watkins’s right to apply for an Oregon
8 educator license. _ (I;
9 IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 120 day 0f February, 2014.
10 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
1 1
12
13 By:
14 Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director
15
16 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS
17
18 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY BE
l9 OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 6o DAYS FROM THE SERVICE OF
20 THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ORS 183.482 TO
21 THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.
PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY —WATK|NS, BLAKE CAMERON

- CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
1 hereby certify that 1 served the foregoing notice of final order, certified by me as such, by
mailing U.S. First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail-Return Receipt Requested, addressed ‘
to:
Blake Cameron Watkins
604 Tandy Lane
‘ Pleasanton, TX 78064
at ‘
Dated this Lday of February, 2014.
By: . I
’ Pa i dell
PAGE 1- CERTIFICATE OF MAILING— WATKINS, BLAKE CAMERON