1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3 In the Matter 0f the ) STIPULATION OF FACF S AND

4 Educator License of ) FINAL ORDER OF SURRENDER AND

5 CORY THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH ) REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO

6 ) APPLY FOR LICENSURE

7 On or about December 17, 2013, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission

8 (Commission) received a report from the North Wasco County School District, alleging

9 that licensed educator, Cory Thomas Hollingsworth (Hollingsworth), had committed acts
1O of unprofessional conduct. The school district report indicated that Hollingsworth was the
11 subject of a related local law enforcement investigation alleging that Hollingsworth had
12 used school district equipment to search for and view internet pornography.
13 After review of the matters alleged, Hollingsworth and the Commission agree that their
14 respective interests, together with the public interest, are best served by a stipulation to
15 certain facts, Hollingsworth’s surrender of his Oregon educator license and the consequent
16 revocation of Hollingsworth’s Right to Apply for an Oregon educator license.
17 By signing below, Hollingsworth acknowledges, understands, stipulates, and agrees to
18 the following: (i) he has been fully advised of his rights to notice and a healing t0 contest
19 the findings of fact, conclusions 0f law, and order set forth below, and fully and finally
20 waives all such rights and any rights to appeal or otherwise challenge this Stipulation of
21 Facts and Final Order of Surrender and Revocation of Right to Apply for Licensure
22 (Stipulation and Final Order); (ii) this Stipulation and Final Order is a public document
23 and disclosed t0 the public upon request by the Commission; (iii) this Stipulation and
24 Final Order is contingent upon and subject to approval and adoption by the Commission.
25 If the Commission does not approve and adopt this Stipulation and Final Order, then
26 neither Hollingsworth nor the Commission are bound by the terms herein; (iv) he has fully
27 read this Stipulation and Final Order, and understands it completely; (v) he voluntarily,

Page 1 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND FINAL ORDER OF SURRENDER AND REVOCATION OF
RIGHT TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE — CORY THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH

1 without any force or duress, enters into this Stipulation and Final Order and consents to
2 issuance and entry of the Stipulated Final Order below; (vi) he states that no promises or
3 representation has been made to induce him to sign this Stipulation and Final Order; and
4 (vii) he has consulted with an attorney regarding this Stipulation and Final Order and has
5 been fully advised with regard to his rights thereto, or waives any and all rights to consult
6 with an attorney prior to entering into this Stipulation and Final Order and issuance and
7 entry of the Stipulated Final Order below.
8 This Order sets forth the facts upon which the parties have agreed and the sanction to be
9 imposed. Hollingsworth stipulates that there are sufficient facts contained in the
1O Commission’s files and records to support the findings of fact and conclusions of law set
11 forth below. In entering into this stipulation, Hollingsworth waives the right to a hearing
12 to contest the findings of fact, conclusions of law and order set forth below.
13
14 STIPULATION OF FACTS
15 1. The Commission has licensed Hollingsworth since April 30, 1992. Hollingsworth held a
16 Basic Teaching License, with endorsements in Basic Mathematics (018) and Basic
17 Physical Education (018), which was valid from August 26, 2013, through July 29, 2017.
18 Hollingsworth did not make application for renewal 0f his licensure. During all relevant
19 times, Hollingsworth was employed by the North Wasco County School District.
2O 2. On December 17, 2013, the Commission received a report from the North Wasco County
21 School District indicating Hollingsworth may have committed acts which constitute
22 gross neglect of duty. Investigation determined that on or about November 25, 2013,
23 Hollingsworth used a school district computer to perform internet searches for
24 pornographic materials. When district officials recovered the computer used by
25 Hollingsworth, they found the browsing history had been intentionally deleted, along
26 with over 100,000 files. Investigation established that the adult material was both
Page 2 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND FINAL ORDER OF SURRENDER AND REVOCATION OF
RIGHT TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE — CORY THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH

\
1 searched for and viewed on the school district’s computer. A forensic review of
2 Hollingsworth’s school district computer indicates that Hollingsworth conducted these
3 activities during school hours. Pornographic materials were located on the computer’s
4 hard drive as files, temporary files, deleted files and partially deleted files. Examination
5 of Hollingsworth’s internet history indicated Hollingsworth would misspell key words to
6 get past the school district’s restrictive internet filters.
7 3. Forensic examination indicated Hollingsworth searched for internet pornography,
8 sometimes using terms like “Young teen”, “forced to have sex”, and “youngest pussy’
9 which led police investigators to believe Hollingsworth may have been searching for
1O child pornography. A criminal investigation was conducted and while some questionable
11 and disturbing pornographic materials were located, no definitive evidence of illegal
12 pornography was discovered. Hollingsworth was charged with “Official Misconduct” and
13 on September 26, 2016, Hollingsworth plead guilty to a Class A misdemeanor,
14 “Computer Crime”.
15 4. On May 9, 2016, in response to the Commission’s official request to conduct an interview
16 of Hollingsworth, Hollingsworth refused to be interviewed.
1 7
18 IT IS SO STIPULATED:
19 L: [fiKéff af%§ __ */_0_/S [g Z
20 Cory Thomas Ho l' sworth Date
21 Vgfimg nit/17
22 Trent Da owski, Co-Interim Executive Director Date
23 Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
24
25
26
27
Page 3 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND FINAL ORDER OF SURRENDER AND REVOCATION OF
RIGHT TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE - CORY THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH

1 CONCLUSION OF LAW
2 Cory Thomas Hollingsworth engaged in unprofessional conduct as described in sections
3 two (2), and three (3) above. This conduct constitutes gross neglect of duty in violation of ORS
4 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584—020-0040(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584—020-0010(5) (Use
5 professional judgment); OAR 584—020-0025(2)(e) (Using district lawful and reasonable rules
6 and regulations), OAR 584—020-0040(4)(b) (Substantial unauthorized use of employment time
7 or school resources for private purposes), OAR 584—020-0040(4) (q) (Knowing and
8 unauthorized use of school computer equipment to receive, store, produce or send sexually
9 explicit materials); and OAR 584—020-0040(o) as it incorporates OAR 584—020-0035(2)(e)
1O (Not use the district's or school's name, property, or resources for non-educational benefit or
1 1 purposes without approval of the educator's supervisor or the appointing authority).
12 Cory Thomas Hollingsworth engaged in unprofessional conduct as described in section
13 three (3) above. This conduct constitutes Gross Unfitness in violation of OAR 584—020-
14 0040(5)(c) (Conviction of violating any federal, state, or local law. A conviction includes any
15 final judgment of conviction by a court whether as the result of guilty plea, no contest plea or
16 any other means), specifically: ORS 164.377(2) (Computer Crime).
17 Cory Thomas Hollingsworth engaged in unprofessional conduct as described in section
18 four (4) above. This conduct constitutes Gross Neglect of Duty in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(b);
19 OAR 584—020-0040(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584—020-0010(5) (Use professional
20 judgment), and OAR 584—020-0040(4)(p) (Subject to the exercise of any legal right or
21 privilege, failure or refusal by an educator under investigation to respond to requests for
22 information, to furnish documents or to participate in interviews with a Commission
23 representative relating to a Commission investigation).
24 The Commission’s authority to impose discipline in this matter is based upon ORS
25 342.175.
26
Page 4 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND FINAL ORDER OF SURRENDER AND REVOCATION OF
RIGHT TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE — CORY THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH

1 ORDER
2 The Commission adopts the above Stipulation of Facts and Final Order and hereby
3 accepts the surrender of Hollingsworth’s educator license and revokes Hollingsworth’s right to
4 apply for an Oregon educator license based upon the conduct described above.
5
6 IT rs s0 ORDERED this I :5 day of MIMI/Mb 15 , 20 I Z
7 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
8
/
9 By:
1O Trent Dano ski, Co-Interlm Executive Director
1 1
12
Page 5 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND FINAL ORDER OF SURRENDER AND REVOCATION OF
RIGHT TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE — CORY THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH