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 LARRY DALE COURTIER COATES ) RIGHT TO APPLY

7

8

9 On June 10, 2014, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission)
10 issued a Notice 0f Opportunity for Hearing to Larry Dale Courtier Coates (Coates) in which
11 the Commission charged him with Gross Neglect of Duty. The Notice was sent via U.S. First
12 Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 7010 2780 0000 2187 4061 to the address on file
13 with the Commission. The Notice designated the Commission file as the record for purposes
l4 0f proving a prima facie case. As 0f January 21, 2015, the Certified Mail receipt has not been
15 received by the Commission. The first class mail was not returned to the Commission. The
16 Notice of Opportunity 0f Hearing, dated January 8, 2015, and signed by Victoria
17 Chamberlain, Executive Director, stated:
18 “IF A REQUEST FOR HEARING IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIS 21-DAY
19 PERIOD, YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING SHALL BE CONSIDERED WAIVED
20 UNLESS YOUR FAILURE TO REQUEST A HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR
21 REASONABLE CONTROL. IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING OR IF YOU
22 FAIL TO APPEAR AT A HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN ORDER
23 OF DEFAULT WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF
24 YOUR LICENSE OR OTHER DISCIPLINE.”
25
26 On January 19, 2015, Coates thru his attorney Barish, withdrew his request for a hearing
27 and requested a default order. The Commission, therefore, finds Coates to be in default and
28 enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final order, based on the files
29 and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
30 FINDINGS OF FACT
31 1. The Commission has licensed Coates since June 29, 1999. Coates previously held
32 an Initial II Teaching License valid from August 27, 2011, through August 26,
33 2014, with an endorsement in Music (ML/ HS). On June 11, 2014, Coates
34 submitted a written request / notice that he was surrendering his teaching
35 license, effective on that date, as part 0f an agreement with the Beaverton City
36 Attorney to settle Coates’ related criminal investigation. During all relevant
37 times, Coates was employed by the Beaverton School District. i

PAGE 1-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION 0F RIGHT To APPLY- LARRY DALE COURTIER COATES

1 2. On April 8, 2014, the Commission received a report from the Beaverton School
2 District alleging Coates violated professional standards and practices. The
3 resulting district, law enforcement, and Commission investigations determined
4 that 0n 0r about April 3, 2014, while Coates was employed as a teacher at the
5 Whitford Middle School, Coates, 0n two occasions, physically pulled an eighth
6 grade student (AC) by the hair, causing her pain. AC rated her pain level as a 7
7 out of 10, with 10 being the worst pain she had ever felt, and rated her pain level
8 at a 6 approximately 3 hours after the event, telling police officers that her head
9 still ached. AC reports she would be uncomfortable returning to Coates’
10 classroom, and had been seeking a transfer from Coates’ class because of other
11 inappropriate behavior on Coates’ part. The hair pulling event was witnessed by
12 the entire classroom and several students reported being disturbed by Coates’
‘ l3 actions and uncomfortable in his classroom. Both the school district’s and the
g 14 Commission’s investigations determined Coates’ use of force on the involved
i 15 student t0 be excessive, inappropriate, and in violation of local policy.
i 16
17 3. Due to Coates’ conduct in section two, Coates was charged with the criminal
18 conduct of Harassment, a class B misdemeanor. At a later date, the criminal
19 charges were dismissed as a result of a civil compromise that required Coates t0
20 continue counseling, write an apology letter t0 AC, surrender his teaching license,
21 and resign Coates’ employment. On June 11, 2014, Coates submitted a letter to
22 the Commission voluntarily offering to surrender his teaching license. The
23 Commission accepted the surrender pending due process and final Commission
24 approval.
25
26 4. During the course of the investigation regarding the allegations contained in sections
27 two and three, additional inappropriate conduct on Coates’ part was discovered by
28 commission investigators. On May 28, 2013, Coates was issued a letter of reprimand
29 from the Beaverton School District. This was a result of students reporting to the
30 administration additional conduct on Coates’ part that violates professional standards.
31 Students reported the following conduct:
i
PAGE 2-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY- LARRY DALE COURTIER COATES

l a. Coates, on more than one occasion, struck students on the head with a

2 book/ music folder/ notebook for forgetting an instrument, playing the wrong

3 note, or for asking for help.

4 b. Multiple students reported Coates would call some students by nicknames, like

5 “Goliath” (large student), “Fuzzy” (student’s hair), and “Squirrel”. After being

6 confronted by the administration about this, Coates reported to his class that

7 there “was a tattletale in the classroom”. Students reported that Coates

8 commented to one student that they had “terrible hair”, Coates then stated “Hey

9 that was mean, you get to slap me”.
10 c. Students reported that Coates would on occasion grab students by the ear and
1 1 physically lead them t0 a position or instrument.
12 d. Students complained that Coates would line the classroom up and tell the class
13 that if they were in the front of the line, they were an “A”, and if in the back of the
14 line, they were an “F”. Students advised they were embarrassed by this and felt
15 bad in front of their peers as a result.
16
17 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
18 Larry Dale Courtier Coates engaged in unprofessional conduct as described in section
19 two (2) and three (3) above. This conduct constitutes Gross Neglect of Duty in violation ORS
2O 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-o2o-oo4o(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-oo1o(1)
21 (Recognize the worth and dignity of all persons and respect for each individual), OAR 584-
22 020-0010(5) (Use professional judgment), OAR 584-020-0025(2)(a) (Establishing and
23 maintaining classroom management that is conductive to learning), OAR 584-020-
24 0025(2)(e) (Using district lawfiil and reasonable rules and regulations); and OAR 584-020-
25 0040(4)(d) (Unreasonable physical force against students, fellow employees, or visitors to
26 the school, except as permitted under ORS 339.250). This conduct also constitutes gross
27 unfitness in violation 0f ORS 342.175(1)(c); OAR 584-020-0040(5)(e) (Admission of, 0r
28 engaging in acts constituting criminal conduct, even in the absence of a criminal
29 conviction). Specifically, your conduct constituted Harassment as defined in ORS
3O 166.065(1)(a).
31 Larry Dale Courtier Coates engaged in unprofessional conduct as described in section

PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY- LARRY DALE COURTIER COATES

1 four (4) above. This conduct constitutes Gross Neglect of Duty in violation ORS 342.175(1)(b);
2 OAR 584-o2o-oo4o(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-oo1o(1) (Recognize the worth
3 and dignity 0f all persons and respect for each individual), OAR 584-020-0010(5) (Use
4 professional judgment), OAR 584-020-0015(2)(e) (Skill in the selection and use of teaching
5 techniques conducive to student learning), OAR 584-020-0025(2)(a)(Establishing and
6 Maintaining classroom management that is conductive to learning), OAR 584-020-
7 0030(2)(b) (Skill in communicating with administrators, students, staff, parents, and other
8 patrons); and OAR 584-020-0040(4)(0) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0035(1)(c)(D)
9 (Honoring appropriate adult boundaries with students in conduct and conversations at all

10 times).

11

12 The Commission’s authority to impose discipline in this matter is based upon ORS

13 342.175.

14 FINAL ORDER

15 The Commission hereby accepts the surrender of Larry Dale Courtier Coates’

16 Educator License, and revokes Larry Dale Courtier Coates’ right to apply for an Educator

l7 licensure.

18 rel

19 IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 23 day of January, 2015.

20 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

21 By:

22 Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director

23

24 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS

25

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

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

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

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

PAGE 4-DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF RIGHT To APPLY- LARRY DALE COURTIER COATES

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:
Larry Dale Courtier Coates
15630 SW 88th Ave
Portland, OR 97224-5502
r0]
Dated this 33 day of January, 2015.
By:
Patty el
Investigative Assistant
I
PAGE 1- CERTIFICATE OF MAILING— LARRY DALE COURTIER COATES