l BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON 3 4 In the Matter of the ) DEFAULT ORDER 5 Teaching License of ) OF SUSPENSION OF 6 LENNY NELSON WILLIAMS ) RIGHT TO APPLY 7 8 On April 6, 2011, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission) issued a 9 Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Lenny Nelson Williams (Williams) in which the 10 Commission charged him with Gross Neglect of Duty pursuant to ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584- 11 020-0040(4)(c), OAR 584-020-0040(4)(0), OAR 584-020-0035(3)(a), ORS 342-175(1Xb); l2 OAR 584-020-oo4o(4)(n), OAR 584-020-0010(5).The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class Mail l3 and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 7010 0290 0001 6831 3919 to the address on file with the l4 Commission. Williams signed for the certified mail on April 11, 2011. The Notice 0f 15 Opportunity 0f Hearing, dated April 6, 2011, and signed by Victoria Chamberlain, Executive l6 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 REQUESTA HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR REASONABLE CONTROL. 20 IF YOU DO NOT REQUESTA HEARING OR IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT A 21 HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN ORDER OF DEFAULT WHICH MAY 22 INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE OR OTHER 23 DISCIPLINE.” 24 25 On April 13, 2011, Williams requested a hearing. A Prehearing conference was held on June 30, 26 2011. A second Prehearing conference was held on July 18, 2011. The Commission 27 subsequently received a letter from Williams, dated July 12, 2011, withdrawing his request for 28 hearing. The Commission, therefore, finds Williams to be in default and enters the following 29 findings of fact, conclusions of law and order, based on the files and records of the Commission 30 concerning this matter. 31 FINDINGS OF FACI‘ 32 1. Williams was first licensed by the Commission on February 11, 1987. Williams’ Standard 33 Personnel Service License that was issued on February 7, 2002 expired on February 17, 34 2007. During all relevant times Williams was employed by Union Baker Educational Service 35 District. 36 2. Between August 2001 and September 2002, Wflliams submitted 12 travel reimbursement 37 claims in connection with work-related conferences or other events. For these 3 8 reimbursements, records showed that Williams was at other geographic locations or that PAGE 1—DEFAULT ORDER OF SUSPENSION OF RIGHT TO APPLY- WILLIAMS, LENNY NELSON 1 Williams did not attend the claimed events. The dates 0f the trips Williams claimed include 2 the following 3 2001 4 August 7-8 5 2002 6 February 4-5 7 February 7-8 8 April 18 9 May 15-16 10 May 20—21 1 1 May 23-24 12 June 26-27 13 July 16-17 14 August 12-13 15 August 14-15 16 September 7-8 17 3. Between July 2001 and February 2003, Williams submitted 10 travel reimbursement claims 18 in connection with work-related conferences or other events. For these claims, there was no l9 documentation indicating that Williams actually made the trips or attended the claimed 20 events. The dates of the trips are as follows: 21 2001 22 August 31 t0 September 1 23 September 25-26 24 October 29-30 25 2002 26 March 20—21 27 April 11-12 28 May 1-2 29 July 28-29 30 August 18-19 31 2003 32 January 4-5 3 3 February 9-10 34 4. Between July 1, 2001 and February 28, 2003, Williams claimed 14 mileage reimbursement 35 claims in connection with trips to Costco. For the dates the mileage was claimed, there was 36 no corresponding reimbursement for goods or corresponding charges on the ESD credit card 37 or petty cash. Williams submitted these mileage reimbursements without any connection to 3 8 his work. 39 5. Williams submitted two travel reimbursements for trips from La Grande to Salem during 40 February 12-14 2003 and during February 15-17, 2003. Williams claimed round trip mileage 41 for both trips from La Grande t0 Salem but he did not return to La Grande in between trips. 42 / / / 43 / / / PAGE 2—DEFAULT ORDER OF SUSPENSION OF RIGHT TO APPLY- WILLIAMS, LENNY NELSON l CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 2 By submitting one or more improper claims for travel reimbursement, Williams engaged 3 in gross neglect of duty under ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-o2o-oo4o(4)(c) (Knowing 4 falsification of any document 0r knowing misrepresentation directly related t0 licensure, 5 employment, licensure, or professional duties) and OAR 584-020-oo4o(4)(o) as it 6 incorporates OAR 584-020-0035(3)(a) (Maintain the dignity of the profession by 7 respecting and obeying the law, exemplifying personal integrity and honesty); ORS 8 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-o2o-oo4o(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0010(5) (use 9 professional judgment). 10 By claiming full mileage for trips where he was not so entitled, Williams engaged in gross 1 1 neglect of duty under ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(c) (Knowing falsification 12 of any document 0r knowing misrepresentation directly related to licensure, employment, 13 licensure, or professional duties), OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o) as it incorporates OAR 584- 14 020-0035(3)(a) (Maintain the dignity of the profession by respecting and obeying the law, 15 exemplifying personal integrity and honesty); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(n) as it incorporates 16 OAR 584-020-0010(5) (use professional judgment). 17 The Commission’s authority to impose discipline in this matter is based upon ORS 18 342.175. l9 FINAL ORDER 20 The Commission hereby Suspends Lenny Nelson Williams’ right to apply for an Oregon 21 Teaching License or Charter School Registry for one year. 22 IT IS SO ORDERED THIS g2 day of November, 2011. 23 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 24 MM; 25 ' 26 By: 27 Victoria Cha ' , Executive Director 33 30 31 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS SS YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY BE 34 OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE SERVICE OF 35 THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ORS 183.482 TO 36 THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS. PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF SUSPENSION OF RIGHT TO APPLY- WILLIAMS, LENNY NELSON 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: Lenny Nelson Williams 5 dolphin Ln Lopez Island, WA 98261 . 911-. Dated this ' day of November, 2011. By: ll’ Mel dy H on Exe 've sistant PAGE 1- CERTIFICATE OF MAILING-WILLIAMS, LENNY NELSON