1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION .
2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON
3
4 In the Matter of the )
5 Teaching License of ' ) DEFAULT ORDER
6 DOUGLAS JAMES PUCKE'IT ) REVOKING LICENSE
7 )
8
9 On November 9, 1998, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission received a
10 report from the Director of Personnel at North Clackamas SD, regarding Douglas
11 Puckett‘s inappropriate conduct while serving as a substitute teacher for the district
12 and that they had removed his name from their substitute list. TSPC's investigation
13 revealed that Puckett's behavior at three other school districts resulted in his name
14 being removed from their substitute list for similar inappropriate conduct. The
15 Commission considered an investigation report and recommendation on March 12,
16 1999 and took action to charge Puckett with violation of TSPC Standards and provide
17 him an opportunity for hearing on the charges. The Executive Director notified
18 Puckett of the charges and of intent to revoke his license, and to inform him of his
19 opportunity for hearing. The notice, dated March 18, 1999, and signed by David V.
20 Myton, Executive Director, stated:
21
22 "You, Douglas James Puckett, are entitled to a hearing on the proposed
23 action of the Commission. If you want a hearing, you must file a written
24 request doe hearing with the Commission within 21 days of the date of
, ' 25 1 this notice." ‘ .
l 26
27 The notice of opportunity for hearing was sent by U.S. first class mail and U.
28 S.Cerl:ified Mai], Return Receipt Requested. The Certified mailing was returned to
29 TSPC marked "Unclaimed" the first class mailing was not returned. Mr. Puckett did
30 not request a hearing.
31
32 FINDINGS OF FACT
33 l. Douglas James Puckett holds a Basic Teaching License with a language arts
34 endorsement issued on November 17, 1997 and valid until June 5, 2001.
35
36 2. On or about December 19, 1997, Douglas Puckett made inappropriate
37 comments to students at Sandy High School where he was serving as a
38 substitute teacher when he told two students who entered the choir room for a
39 legitimate reason to, "Get the hell out, this is my prep".
4O
41 3. In March 1998, Puckett failed to follow district policies and curriculum at
42 Estacada High School where he was employed as a substitute teacher when he
43 ignored the day's lesson plans, told the class that the teacher's "...less0n plans
44 were stupid so they were not going to do them.", and released the students from
45 school early. 1
46 .
-" PAGE 1——DEFAULT ORDER—DOUGLAS JAMES PUCKETT

1 4. On or about October 8, 1998 Puckett failed to demonstrate skills and
' 2 professional demeanor at Rex Putnam High School where he was employed as a
3 substitute teacher when he failed to demonstrate skill in the supervision of
4 students; failed to demonstrate skill in establishing and maintaining classroom
5 management that is conducive to learning; and failed to demonstrate skill in
6 using district reasonable rules, regulations and curriculum. On October 4,
7 1998 he asked, "Are there any hot girls in this class?" and suggested to a female
8 student that if they were married, age difference wouldn't be such a big deal.
9 When confronted by school administrators, he denied making the statements
10 and insisted that he was not that stupid.
ll
12 5. On or about October 26, 1998, Puckett failed to demonstrate skills and
l3 professional demeanor at Milwaukie High School where he was serving as a
14 substitute teacher when he failed to demonstrate skill in establishing and
15 maintaining classroom management that is conducive to learning, failed to
l6 demonstrate a commitment to use professional judgment; and failed to
17 demonstrate skill in communicating with students. Puckett told the students
18 in first period English that one day, at his sister's house, he smoked a lot of
l9 marijuana. He said that a woman came to the door and he wanted to take the
20 woman's clothes off and just, "Do it right there."
21
22 6. On October 27, 1998, while substituting at Milwaukie High School, Puckett
23 sought personal gain and sexually harassed AC, a female student, when he told
24 her she stood out in a crowd, that she was a beautiful woman and asked her to
’ 25 see him outside of school for personal reasons.
26
27 7. On or about November 13, 1998 and November 20, 1998, Puckett failed to
28 demonstrate skills and professional demeanor at Oregon City High School
29 (Freshman Campus) where he was employed as a substitute teacher when he
30 read comic books in the classroom during instructional time, failed to report to
31 areas he was required to supervise, released students early from classes,
32 continued to send students to the Library and the Computer Lab after students
33 had been sent back to class due to overcrowding, and challenged the class to a
34 push-up contests in which several students competed.
35
36 ‘ ULTIMATE FINDINGS OF FACT
37 -
38 Mr. Puckett's conduct as described in the above findings of fact constitutes gross
39 neglect of duty under OAR 584-020-0040(4)(l)(n) and (o).
40
41 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
42
43 Under ORS 342.175 to 190, the Commission may revoke or suspend a license or
44 impose other disciplinary sanctions when an educator violates Standards of
45 Competent and Ethical Performance for Oregon Educators.
46
. PAGE 2—-DEFAULT ORDER—DOUGLAS JAMES PUCKETT

1 ORDER ‘
2
3 The Commission revokes the Basic Teaching License #282251, issued to Douglas ‘
4 James Puckett, for gross neglect of duty. l
5 I
6 7"“ i I
7 Dated this /4 day of‘ m , 1999.
8
9 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION ‘

10

11 Q’ ,

12

1, By; M F

14 David V. Myton, Executive Director

l5

16 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS

l7

l8 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW

19 MAY BE OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM

20 THE SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE

21 PROVISIONS OF ORS 183.482 TO THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.

22

23 DVM / cs

24

25 o

[ 26

27 CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

28 ~

29 I hereby certify that I served the foregoing order by mailing a true copy thereof certified

30 by me as such by regular U.S. mail and by U.S. Certified Mail with Return Receipt

31 Requested to:

32

33 Douglas James Puckett

34 2500 NE 201st Avenue, Unit 48

35 Fairview, OR 97024-9723

36

37 i +21

38 Dated this 06 day of , 1999.

39

40 /

41 " , ‘ .

42 By. WM . ZZ/L)

43 arlene A. Smith '

44 Secretary to the Commission

45

46

’ PAGE 3--DEFAULT ORDER—DOUGLAS JAMES PUCKETT .