WWW ' I
1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
‘ OF THE STATE OF OREGON
4 In the Matter of the )
5 Teaching License of ) DEFAULT ORDER OF
6 STEVEN VIRGIL MORTON ) LICENSE REVOCATION
7
8 On August 28, 2006, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission)
I 9 issued a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Steven Virgil Morton (Morton) in which the
10 Commission charged him with misconduct under ORS 342.175. The Notice was sent via U.S.
11 First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 7005 1160 0001 0494 2604 to the address
12 obtained by the Commission, together with a copy to Elizabeth McKanna, Attorney at Law. The
13 certified mail receipt and U.S. First Class Mail addressed to Steven Morton were returned to the
14 Commission on September 1, 2006. The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing, dated August 28,
15 2006, and signed by Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director, stated:
16 "You, Steven Virgil Morton, are entitled to a hearing on the proposed action of the
' Commission. lf_ you want ‘a hearing, you must file a written request for a hearing
I With the Commiss10n Within 21 days of the date of this notice. Attached to this
19 notice is a copy of the procedures, right of representation and other rights of
20 parties relating to the conduct of a hearing as required under ORS 183.413(2).”
. :2 On September 18, 2006, the Commission received correspondence from
23 Mr. Morton declining his opportunity for a hearing. The Commission, therefore, finds
24 Mr. Morton to be in default and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law
25 and order, based on the files and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
26 FINDINGS 0F FACT
27 1. Mr. Morton has been licensed by the Commission since June 9, 2000. The
28 Commission issued an Initial Teaching License to Mr. Morton on July 10, 2003, valid until
29 March 10, 2007, with a Social Studies Endorsement with a HS authorization.
30 2. Mr. Morton was employed by Three Rivers School District from August 28, 2000, until
31 resignation, in lieu of termination, effective January 23, 2006.
O
PAGE 1 — DEFAULT ORDER OF LICENSE REVOCATION — STEVEN VIRGIL MORTON

I 1 3. During the 2004-2005 school year Mr. Morton failed to maintain an appropriate
Q professional student-teacher relationship with ED, a female student attending Illinois Valley High
3 School. Mr. Morton‘s conduct included telephoning her home and emailing her regarding a
4 professionally inappropriate personal relationship; visiting ED at her home; transporting ED
5 alone in his personal vehicle on more than one occasion; and taking ED to dinner alone twice in
6 March of 2005.
7 4. In March, 2005, Morton was issued a written directive by the principal of the llinois
8 Valley High School to never be alone w/ ED or any student. During the summer of 2005, while
9 sewing as girls’ basketball coach, Mr. Morton violated that directive by failing to maintain an
10 appropriate professional student-teacher relationship with ED, a female student attending Illinois
, 11 Valley High School and participating in girls’ basketball. On several occasions while traveling
12 for basketball tournaments, Mr. Morton encouraged and allowed ED to visit him alone in his
13 motel room late at night; and took ED out to dinner alone.
. 5. During the 2005-2006 school year Mr. Morton failed to maintain an appropriate
15 professional student-teacher relationship with ED, a female student attending Illinois Valley High
16 School. Mr. Morton's conduct included buying ED personal gifts, and sending ED personal
17 emails. The emails Mr. Morton sent to ED discussed his personal feelings for ED. In August of
18 2005, Mr. Morton sent an email to ED in which he wrote, “I have played on emotions that l
19 should not have. My love for you has gone places it should not have gone.”
20 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
32 Steven Virgil Morton’s conduct with ED is in violation of OAR 584-020-0040(4)(f) and
' 23 OAR 584-020-OO40(4)(0), as It incorporates OAR 584-020-0035(1)(c). Mr. Morton's failure to
24 abide by the principal’s written directive of March of 2005 is in violation of OAR 584-020-
25 0040(4)(o) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0035(2)(a). This misconduct constitutes Gross
26 Neglect of Duty. The Commission has the authority to impose discipline in this matter under
. ORS 342.120 through 342.430 and OAR Chapter 584.
PAGE 2 — DEFAULT ORDER OF LICENSE REVOCATION — STEVEN VIRGIL MORTON

1 DEFAULT ORDER
Q The Commission adopts and incorporates herein the above findings of facts and
3 conclusions of law, and based thereon, hereby revokes the Initial Teaching License issued to
4 Steven Virgil Morton.
5 Issued and dated this é day of November, 2006.
» 6 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
7 STATE OF OREGON
9 By: M/
10 ictoria Cha , Executive Director
11 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS
12
13 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY BE
14 OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE SERVICE
15 OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ORS
16 183.482 TO THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.
. PAGE 3 — DEFAULT ORDER OF LICENSE REVOCATION — STEVEN VIRGIL MORTON

1 CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
a I hereby certify that l served the foregoing order by mailing a true copy thereof certified by me
4 as such by U.S. First Class Mail to the Attorney of record for Steven Virgil Morton:
5
6 Elizabeth McKanna
7 Attorney at Law
8 McKanna Bishop Joffe & Sullivan
9 1635 NW Johnson Street
10 Portland OR 97209
11
12 4L”
13 Dated this g day of December 2006.
14
15
16 ‘
17 By:
18 Me dy Ha xecutive Assistant
PAGE 1 — CERTIFICATE OF MAILING - STEVEN VIRGIL MORTON '