1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3

4 In the Matter of the Educator ) DEFAULT ORDER OF

5 License of ) REVOCATION OF

6 LORI ANN HUGHES ) EDUCATOR LICENSE

7

8

9 On June 11, 2015, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission)
10 issued a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Lori Ann Hughes (Hughes) in which the
11 Commission charged her with Gross Neglect of Duty. The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class
12 Mail and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 7015 0640 0007 1084 6168 to the address on file with the
13 Commission. The Notice designated the Commission file as the record for purposes 0f proving
14 a prima facie case. The Certified Mail receipt was not returned to the Commission. The first
15 class mail was not returned and assumed delivered. The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing,
16 dated June 11, 2015, and signed by Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director, stated:
l7 “IF A REQUEST FOR HEARING IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIS 21'DAY PERIOD,
18 YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING SHALL BE CONSIDERED WAIVED UNLESS YOUR
l9 FAILURE TO REQUEST A HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR REASONABLE
20 CONTROL. IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING OR IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT
21 A HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN ORDER OF DEFAULT WHICH
22 MAY INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE OR
23 OTHER DISCIPLINE.”
24
25 Hughes did not request a hearing. The Commission, therefore, finds Hughes to be in default
26 and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final order, based on the files
27 and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
28 ' FINDINGS OF FACT
29 1. Hughes been licensed as a teacher in Oregon since September 2, 1992. Hughes’ Basic
3O Teaching License, with an endorsement in Basic Elementary (016), is valid from October 5,
31 2012, through October 4, 2015. During all relevant times, Hughes was employed by the
32 Klamath Falls County School District.
33 2. On May 2, 2014, the Commission received a school district report indicating Hughes
34 may have committed acts which constitute gross neglect of duty. Investigation
35 determined that Hughes experienced an unusual amount of disciplinary action from the
36 Estacada School District. This included multiple directives and reprimands regarding

37 Hughes’ performance in the areas of, repeated tardiness, mishandling of school funds,

PAGE 1-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF LICENSURE- LORI ANN HUGHES

1 and leaving school announced. 1n addition, on or about April 2014, Hughes used a

2 school district computer and internet connection t0 access a patron’s personal email

3 account and download intimate photographs of the patron’s wife. Hughes stored these

4 photographs on the school district computer. Hughes then attempted t0 extort payment

5 from the patron for disputed monies Hughes claim he owed her. Hughes’ extortion

6 attempts included Hughes sending copies of the photos she had taken from his account

7 and threatening to post them on social media sites if he failed to pay Hughes as

8 demanded. The email account provider was able to trace Hughes’ unauthorized access

9 to Hughes’ school district computer.
10 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
11 Hughes’s conduct described in section two above constitutes gross neglect of duty in
12 violation of ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-004o(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-
13 0010(5) (Use professional judgment); OAR 584-020-oo4o(o) as it incorporates OAR 584-
14 020-0035(2)(e) (Not use the district's or school 's name, property, or resources for non-
15 educational benefit or purposes without approval of the educator's supervisor 0r the
16 appointing authority), OAR 584-020-0035(3)(a) (Maintain the dignity of the profession by
17 respecting and obeying the law, exemplifying personal integrity and honesty);and OAR 584'
l8 020-0040(4)(q) (Knowing and unauthorized use of school computer equipment to receive,
19 store, produce or send sexually explicit materials).
20
21 The Commissions authority to impose discipline in this matter is based upon ORS
22 342.175.
23 FINAL ORDER
24 The Commission hereby revokes Lori Ann Hughes’ Educator license.

/
25 IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 3 alday ofAugust, 2015.
26 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
27 By:
28 Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director
PAGE 2-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF LlCENSURE- LORI ANN HUGHES

l NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS
2 .
3 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY
4 BE OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE
5 SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
6 ORS 183.482 TO THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.

PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF LICENSURE- LORI ANN HUGHES

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
I hereby certify that I 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:
Lori Ann Hughes
5952 S Lone Elder Rd _
Aurora, OR 970029311
rv/
Dated this 5 ' day of August, 2015.
_ '7
F) M
By:
Pat de
Inves rgative Assistant
PAGE 1- CERTIFICATE OF MAILING— LORI ANN HUGHES