_ i" - a‘ l BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON 3 In the Matter of the Teaching License of 4 STIPULATION, SURRENDER OF LICENSE STEPHEN CONLEE AND AMENDED ORDER OF SUSPENSION 5 , 6 On about May 12, 2000, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission) 7 received a report from the Siuslaw School District that Stephen Conlee may have engaged in 8 unprofessional conduct through his interactions with female students. 9 Afier reviewing the matters alleged, Mr. Conlee and the Commission have agreed that i 10 their respective interests, together With the public interest, are best served through a surrender of ll Mr. Conlee’s license, a stipulation to pertinent facts and a six-month suspension of the license. 12 Mr. Conlee denies the allegations that he engaged in unprofessional conduct. However, he 13 stipulates that there are sufficient facts contained in the records and files of the Commission to l4 support the factual findings set forth below and in entering this stipulation he consents to the 15 Commission making these findings. Mr. Conlee also waives his right to a hearing and 16 understands that the Commission will adopt the findings of fact, accept the surrender of his 17 teaching license and suspend the license for a period of six months. l8 This stipulation and order is subject to approval by the Commission at its next scheduled l9 meeting. If the Commission does not adopt the stipulation and order, neither Mr. Conlee nor the 20 Commission shall be bound by any matters contained in this stipulation and order. 21 FINDINGS OF FACT 22 1r Mr. Conlee holds a Standard Oregon Teaching License with an endorsement in 1 23 Music Education. . I ‘ Page l - STIPULATION, SURRENDER OF LICENSE AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION JGM/tjh/GEN66614 Department of Justice 1162 Court Street NE Salem, OR 913014096 (503) 378-6003 . 1 , 541 344 7295 . 1 11/631011 12:45 ‘5541 344 7095 DOJ/EUGENE s“ BENNETT HARTMAN @003/005 ' l 2. Mr. Conlee was employed as a teacher with the Siuslaw School District from 2 August or September 1977, until his resignation, effective June 30, 2000, by the terms of a 3 resignation agreement entered into on or about September 1, 2000. 4 3. On multiple occasions from September 1995 to September 2000, while 5 Mr. Conlee was a music teacher and the high school band teacher at Siuslaw High School, he 6 engaged in inappropriate conduct of a physical and verbal nature towards female high school 7 students and female middle school students. Such behavior included: patting students on the 8 buttocks and legs, telling a student that she had sexy legs, telling students that they looked sexy 9 or that certain clothes rnade them look sexy, telling a student that she should wear a short skirt 10 that showed off her legs, pulling students towards him by grabbing the students‘ pants pockets, 11 and telling a student that he wished he were the same age so they could have a different . 12 relationship. 13 4. Several of the students resigned from the band class because they were unhappy 14 with Mr, Conlee’s conduct, Many of the students felt uncomfortable and intimidated by 15 Mr. Conlee‘s conduct 16 CONCLUSION 0F LAW 17 Stephen Conlee engaged in physical conduct and verbal conduct of a sexual nature within 18 the meaning of OAR 584-020-0005(5)(e) in violation of OAR 58470200040006), and such i 19 conduct constitutes gross neglect of duty. (a y 20 lgkfilmhi dab, 1/» y- 32000 1. S phen Conlee Date 21 - /9-[ {[00 22 David V. Myton Date > 23 . Page 2 - STIPULATION, SURRENDER OF LICENSE AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION JGM/tjh/GEN66614 Department ofJustice 1162 Court sum NE Salem, OR 97301-4096 (503) 2111-6003 . l AMENDED ORDER 2 The Commission accepts the voluntary surrender of Mr. Conlee’s license as permitted 3 under OAR 584-050-0027. The Commission further suspends the teaching license for a period 4 of six months from [the date of this order] November l7, 2000. At the end of the period of 5 suspension, Mr. Conlee’s license shall be reinstated upon application and a showing of the 6 following: 7 l. Mr. Conlee has undergone evaluation by a psychotherapist or medical 8 professional acceptable to the Commission. As part of the evaluation, Mr. Conlee shall furnish a 9 copy of this order to the evaluator. 10 2. The evaluator has submitted to the Commission a written report attesting that ll Mr. Conlee is fit to work with children and teenagers and that there is a high probability ' 12 Mr. Conlee will not repeat inappropriate verbal or physical conduct towards students of the type 13 described in this order. l4 3. Mr. Conlee has taken at least one class or workshop dealing with sexual 15 harassment. 16 Following reinstatement of Mr. Conlee’s teaching license, he shall be placed on probation l7 with the Commission for a period of four years subject t0 the following conditions: 18 1. Mr. Conlee shall comply with any treatment or counseling as recommended by 19 the person who completed the evaluation described above. Mr. Conlee shall furnish copies 0f 20 the evaluator’s report and this order to the treatment provider/counselor and shall authorize and 21 sign consent forms as necessary for the treatment provider/counselor to furnish records to the 22 Commission or to discuss Mr. Conlee’s treatment. But such consent shall authorize disclosure 23 . Page 3 - STIPULATION, SURRENDER OF LICENSE AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION JGM/tjh/GEN66614 1????‘5'3311'31112'511? sméb§€3111115§°96 ' l only to the extent necessary for the treatment provider/counselor to identify and describe 2 Mr. Conlee’s compliance with the terms of this order. ‘ 3 2. Mr. Conlee shall comply with all Standards for Competent and Ethical 4 Performance under OAR 584 Division 020. 5 3. Mr. Conlee shall provide information as requested by the Commission to verify 6 that he has complied with the conditions of probation. 7 DATED this 15:’ day of December 2000. 8 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 9 ML By: " 10 David V. Myton, Executive Director ll ' 12 l3 l4 15 l6 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 . Page 4 - STIPULATION, SURRENDER OF LICENSE AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION JGM/tjh/GEN66614 ingcTilfSiiZffi S“°22b%‘33;%%1;‘°9°