. BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON
3 In the Matter of the ) STIPULATION OF FACTS, WAIVER,
4 Teaching License of ) SURRENDER OF LICENSE
5 SEAN CLARK WARD ) AND ORDER OF REVOCATION
6 The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission) issued a Notice of
7 Opportunity for Hearing on March 18, 2005 to Sean Clark Ward, charging Mr. Ward with
8 misconduct and proposing to suspend or revoke Mr. Ward's teaching license or to otherwise
9 impose discipline. Mr. Ward requested a hearing.
10 After review of the matters alleged, Mr. Ward and the Commission have agreed that their
11 respective interests, together with the public interest, are best served by a stipulation to certain
12 facts, the surrender of Mr. Ward's teaching license under OAR 584-050-0027 and the waiver of
13 Mr. Ward's right to apply for re-instatement of his teaching license.
In entering into this stipulation, Mr. Ward waives his right to a hearing to contest the
Q charges, and he understands that the Commission will accept the surrender of his license and
16 revoke the license.
17 STIPULATION
18 Mr, Ward does not admit the charges in the notice. However, he acknowledges and
19 stipulates that there is sufficient evidence in the record for the Commission to make the findings
20 of fact, conclusions of law and order set forth below, and he stipulates that the Commission may
21 do so.
22 Mr. Ward agrees to surrender his teaching license and agrees that the Commission will
23 revoke his license. Mr. Ward further agrees and stipulates that he will not apply for re-
24 instatement of his teaching license or apply for any Oregon teaching license at any time in the
25 future. In doing so, Mr. Ward permanently forfeits his right to hold an Oregon Teaching License,
6 and he expressly and permanently waives his right to apply for re-lnstatement of his teaching
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‘ license under ORS 342.1756). Mr. Ward understands that if he applies for re-instatement of
2 his teaching license in the future that the Commission will deny his application.
3 This stipulation and proposed order is contingent umn approval and adoption by the full
4 Commission. If the Commission does not approve this stipulation and order, it is understood
5 that any waiver of rights by Mr. Ward is therefore revoked. It is further understood in such event
6 that the statements contained in this stipulation may not be used by either the Commission or
7 Mr. Ward in any subsequent contested case hearing.
. 8 ITISSQSlPU ‘T/l
9 > ‘ ‘ I012]! [Q j
10 emf»? Ward Da e
11 1/M’ 101/4211 ‘ Zd' ~92} Q ST’
12 ictoria Cham if‘?! , Executive Director D e
13 Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
14 FINDINGS OF FACT
. 1. Mr. Ward has been licensed by the Commission since December 4, 1998.
16 The Commission issued a Standard Personnel Service License to Mr. Ward on
17 November 3, 2004, valid until July 30, 2010, with a Standard Counselor Endorsement.
18 2, On June 1, 1998, the Grants Pass School District hired Mr. Ward to serve on
19 contract as a school counselor at Grants Pass High School. Mr. Ward resigned his employment
20 with the District effective January 31, 2005.
21 3. During the 2000-2001 school year, Mr. Ward failed to maintain an appropriate
22 professional student-teacher relationship with an 18 year old female student who was
23 completing her senior year at Grants Pass High School. The misconduct included the following:
24 a. Mr. Ward expressed a professionally inappropriate interest in the students
25 personal life, and he discussed matters concerning his personal life with the student.
O
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‘ b. Although the student was not assigned to Mr. Ward as a counselor, he spent ‘
2 time alone with the student in his office during which time he discussed topics of a
3 personal nature that were not school~related. I
4 c. Mr. Ward spent an excessive amount of time alone with the student at Mr. Ward's
5 home. During this period, Mr. Ward allowed the student to visit him alone at his home
6 during the evening hours on more than 30 occasions.
7 d. Mr. Ward gave a personal gift to the student and allowed the student to give him
8 personal gifls.
9 e. Mr. Ward had reason to believe that the student was becoming romantically
10 attached to him, and he did not report this fact to his supervisor or to any other school
1 1 official.
12 4. Following the student's graduation from high school in the summer of 2001, Mr. Ward
‘ began dating the student and developed a romantic and physical relationship with the student.
4 CONCLUSION OF LAW
15 During the 2000-2001 school year, Mr. Ward engaged in an inappropriate student-
16 teacher relationship with a female student. This conduct constitutes gross neglect of duty in
17 violation of OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o) as that rule incorporates OAR 584-0200035(c)(A), (B) and
18 (C).
1 9
20
O
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G ORDER
2 The Commission accepts the surrender of Sean Clark Ward's Standard Personnel
3 Service License, acknowledges Mr. Ward's waiver of his right to apply for reinstatement at any
4 time in the future and hereby revokes the license.
5 lT IS SO ORDERED this E day of November, 2005.
6 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
7 s
8 By: M
9 Victoria Chambe ' Executive Director
10
11 Approved a o form:
12
13 ’
14
‘ Th as K. Doyle, SB #97251
A mey for Sean Clark Ward
17
18
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