l BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
. ‘. OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3 In the Matter of the ) STIPULATION OF FACTS

4- Application for Teaching License of ) PUBLIC REPRIMAND AND

5 KRISTEN HAMILTON ) ORDER OF PROBATION

6 )

7 On October 8. 1996, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission informed Kristen

8 Hamilton that the Commission found sufficient evidence of violation of Standards for

9 Competent and Ethical Performance of Oregon Educators to warrant a hearing regarding her
10 application for an Oregon Teaching License. Kristen Hamilton requested a hearing on the
1 1 allegations, but before a hearing date was set, the parties have agreed that their respective
12 interest and the interests of the State are best served by a Stipulation of Facts and Order of
13 Probation as set forth below.
14 FINDINGS OF FACT
15 l. Kristen Hamilton completed a teacher education program at Eastern Oregon State
16 College in June 1996. She was recommended by the college for a Basic Teaching
17 License with an endorsement in physical education.
l8 2. Hamilton took a PRAXIS examination in physical education and achieved a score which
19 exceeded TSPC's minimum passing score.
20 3. Hamilton also attempted the PRAXIS test of health education, but failed on the first
21 attempt to achieve TSPC’s minimum passing score of 720.

l ,
22 4. Hamilton altered the ETS score report from 710 to 720 in order to qualify for a health
23 education endorsement.
24 5. On July 21. 1996, Hamilton submitted an application for licensure with endorsements
25 in physical education and health education and submitted the altered score report on
26 health education as the basis for the health education endorsement.
27 6. TSPC evaluators detected the altered score report for health education and referred the
28 application to the Executive Secretary following established procedures for falsified
29 documents.
30 7. The Executive Secretary denied Hamilton's application for licensure for falsifying a
3 1 document.
32 8. In July 1996, Hamilton re-took the health education test and obtained a score of 780.
33 9. On September l, 1996. Hamilton submitted the report of the successful retest together
34 with an explanation for her reasons for altering the original score report on the health
35 education test.
{ PAGE l—-PROPOSED STIPULATION AND ORDER--KRISI‘EN HAMILTON

1 Kristen Hamilton enters into this Stipulation of Facts with knowledge that the Teacher
.1 Standards and Practices Commission will issue a public reprimand] Oregon License endorsed
3 in This Stipulation is contingent upon approval and adoption of the Order by the Commission.
4 If the Commission does not adopt this Order, neither Ms. Hamilton nor the Commission are
5 bound by these stipulations and her retains all rights to a hearing on the allegations.
6 IT IS SO STIPULATED:
7 WE” MM [MMQ
8 'sten Hamilton Dat
9 //%L/i/' [l r.___ Mlisl/ifl
10 David V. Myto ', Executi Secretary Date
11 Teacher Standards and ctices Commission
12 ULTIMATE FINDINGS OF FACT
13 Kristen Hamilton submitted a falsified report of score on the PRAXIS health education test as a
l4 part of her application for an Oregon Teaching License.
15 CONCLUSIONS OF IAW
'6 Under OAR 584-50-006(1)(a), the Executive Secretary is authorized to deny licensure when an
7 applicant submits falsified documentation of academic qualifications.
18 OPINION
19 Kristen Hamilton's actions in submitting a falsified score report on the PRAXIS test of health
20 education is a serious breach of professional ethics. Her actions were bizarre in view of the
21 fact that she qualified for a Basic Teaching License with endorsements in physical education
22 ' without the test score in health education. Her score in health
23 education was within one standard error of measure of the passing score, thus her chances of
24- passing on a retest were very highJ as later demonstrated by her retest score. It appears that
25 her desire to get licensed to apply for a teaching position in September 1996 was responsible
26 for her extremely poor judgment in altering the test score. She has very high
27 recommendations from the college and from her former high school instructors, and there are
28 no other reports of dishonesty in her academic history. Based upon these factors. this order
29 authorizes issuance of a Basic Teaching License contingent upon a period of probation for one
30 year from the date of acceptance of this order by the Commission.
.t PAGE 2—-PROPOSED STIPULATION AND ORDER-~KRISTEN HAMILTON

1 ORDER
.2. The Commission issues a Public Reprimand to Kristen Hamilton and this order constitutes the
3 reprimand. A Basic Teaching License with endorsements in physical education and health
4 education shall be issued to Kristen Hamilton, however she shall be on probation for one year
5 from the date of acceptance of this order by the Commission. During this period of probation ‘
6 Hamilton shall conduct herself as a law abiding citizen and shall comply with the Standards 1
7 for Competent and Ethical Performance of Oregon Educators. 3
/}_ V 1b M/
s Dated this day of Jé/J ‘Xf, 1996.
9 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
Q/l/My 02.74141}?
10 By: v i t ' [ ,.
ll David V. Myton, Ex cutive Secretary
1 2 DVM /cs
13 CERFIFICATE OF MAILING
14 I hereby certify that I served the foregoing order by mailing a true copy thereof certified by me
15 as such by U. S. First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested t0:
‘6 KRISTEN HAMILTON
17 214 NW 8TH
18 PENDLETON OR 97801
2W , ,
19 Dated this Q ’ day of AM 1996.
2O Byzg iimfi Q2 &§220ZL1
21 Ch lene A. Smith
22 Secretary to the Commission
‘ PAGE 3——PROPOSED STIPULATION AND ORDER--KRISTEN HAMILTON