1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3 In the Matter of the ) STIPULATION OF FACTS AND

4 Teaching License of ) FINAL ORDER OF SUSPENSION

5 PAMELA A. CHURCH WOOD) ) OF LICENSE

§I On or about February 10, 2010, April 28, 2010, and May 4, 2010, the Teacher

8 Standards and Practices Commission (Commission) received a report from the

9 Superintendent of the Nyssa School District indicating that Pamela A. Church (Wood)
1O (hereinafter “Church”) may have failed to maintain professional boundaries and to
1 1 report a possible case of child abuse in a timely manner_
1 2 After review of the matters alleged, Church and the Commission agree that their
1 3 respective interests, together with the public interest, are best served by a stipulation to
14 certain facts and the imposition of a 30 day suspension of Church’s Standard Teaching
15 License. By signing this Stipulation and Final Order, Church does not agree that the
16 evidence supports all the Commission’s Stipulation of Facts and Conclusions of Law.
1 7 Nonetheless, Church understands that the Commission will rely upon the Stipulation of
18 Facts to suspend her license and waives her right to appeal the suspension of her license.
19 By signing below, Church acknowledges, understands, stipulates, and agrees to a
20 the following: (i) she has been fully advised of her rights to notice and a hearing to
21 contest the ﬁndings of fact, conclusions of law, and order set forth below, and fully and
22 ﬁnally waives all such rights and any rights to appeal or otherwise challenge this
23 Stipulation of Facts and Final Order of Suspension of License (Stipulation and Final
24 Order); (ii) this Stipulation and Final Order is a public document and disclosed to the
25 public upon request to the Commission; (iii) this Stipulation and Final Order is
26 contingent upon and subject to approval and adoption bythe Commission. If the
27 Commission does not approve and adoptthis Stipulation and Final Order, then neither
28 Church nor the Commission are bound bythe terms herein; (iv) she has fully read this

Page 1 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF LICENSE SUSPENSION - CHURCH, PAMELA A.

1 Stipulation and Final Order, and understands it completely; (v) she voluntarily, without
2 any force or duress, enters into this Stipulation and Final Order and consents to issuance
3 and entry of the Stipulated Final Order below; (vi) she states that no promise or
4 representation has been made to induce her to sign this Stipulation and Final Order; and
5 (vii) she has consulted with an attorney regarding this Stipulation and Final Order and
6 has been fully advised with regard to her rights thereto, or waives any and all rights to
7 consult with an attorney prior to entering into this Stipulation and Final Order and
. 8 issuance and entry of the Stipulated Final Order below.
9 STIPUIATION OF FACTS
10 1. The Commission has licensed Church as a teacher in Oregon since November 20,
1 1 1981. Church’s current Standard Teaching License, with an endorsement in Basic
12 Physical Education and Standard Social Studies, issued on April 6, 2006, is pending
13 renewal as of April 6, 2009. During all relevant times, Church was employed by the
14 Nyssa School District.
15 2. District students have come to Church’s home on occasion for social or community
16 events. Students participating in those events have had parental permission to be
1 7 there.
1 8 3. On or about April 19, 2010, a female student in the district disclosed to Church that
19 she was cutting herself and was potentially suicidal. Church conducted a suicide
20 assessment and believing the student not to be at risk for suicide or additional injury
21 counseled the student to speak to her parents about her condition and gave the
22 student time to do that. Church did not refer the student to a counselor; call the
23 parents, law enforcement or DHS.
24 4. Around the same time this female student exprmd to her mother that she wanted
25 to stay at Church’s home. The student spent the night at Church’s home. The
26 following day Church leit the student alone at her home while she went to work.
27 When approached by school oﬂ'icials regarding the student’s wellbeing and potential
28 for committing suicide, Church responded that she had checked in with the student
29 and that “she didn’thave a plan.”
Page 2 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF LICENSE SUSPENSION - CHURCH, PAMELA A.

1 5. On or about May 1, 2010, Church allowed students to enter her home while she was

2 out of state to clean her home. Without Church’s knowledge, the students spent the

3 night at Church’s home without any adult supervision.

4 6. On May 15, 2002 the Nyssa School District warned Church about fraternizirg with

5 students and discouraged slumber parties, sleepovers, or having students stay

6 overnight at her home unless Church was the legal guardian of that student.

7 IT IS SO STIPULATED:

8 .
1 0 Pam Church Date
1 1 ' \
12 M/ Z ~02? 41
13 rctoria Chamberla 've Director Date
14 Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
1 5 CONCLUSION OF LAW
16 Church did not immediately report her concerns of potential child abuse as described in
17 paragraph 3 above. This conduct constitutes gross neglect of duty in violation of ORS
18 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0010(5) (Use
19 proﬁessr'onal judgment); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-
20 0035(1)(c)(A)(Not denwnstmting or expressing professionally inrmpmpriate interest in a

. 21 snrdenfs personal life) and OAR 584_o20—oo40(4)(s) (Failing to report child abuse pursuant
22 to ORS 4198.010).
23 Church allowed students to enter her home while she was out of state affording them the
24 opportunity to spend the night at her home without adult supervision as described in paragraph
25 5 above. This conduct constitutes gross neglect of duty in violation of ORS 342.175 (1)(b); OAR
26 584-020-0040(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0010(5)(Use of professional judgment);
27 OAR 584020-0020(2)(d)(81dll in the supervision of students); and OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o) V
28 as it incorporates OAR 584-0035(1)(c)(D)(H0noring appropriate adult boundaries with
29 students inconductandcarwersatians atall times).
Page 3 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF LICENSE SUSPENSION - CHURCH, PAMELA A.

1 Church socialized with middle school students at her home. This conduct constitutes
2 gross neglect of duty in violation of ORS 342.175 (1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(n) as it
3 incorporates OAR 584-020-0010(5)(Use 0f professional judgment); OAR 584020-
4 oo20(2)(d)(Skill in the supervision of students); and OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o) as it
5 incorporates OAR 584-0035(1)(c)(D)(Homr-ing appropriate adult boundaries with students in
6 conduct and conversations at all times).
7 ORDER
8 The Commission adopts and incorporates herein the above ﬁndings of fact and
9 conclusions of law, and based thereon, imposes a 3o day suspension of Pamela A.
1O Church’s Standard Teaching License.
0.1"”
1 1 Issued and dated this day of July, 2011.
12 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
13 STATE O REGON
14 ‘ '
1 5
16 1ctoria Cham ‘ utive Director
Page 4 STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF LICENSE SUSPENSION - CHURCH, PAMELA A.