1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON
431 In the Matter of the ) DEFAULT ORDER OF
5 Teaching License of ) REVOCATION OF OREGON
6 JARED JAMES WESTOVER ) TEACHING LICENSE
7
8 On March 26, 2009, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (Commission) issued a
9 Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Jared James Westover (Westover) in which the Commission
10 charged him with misconduct under ORS 342.175. The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class Mail and
11 U.S. Certified Mail Receipt 7008 1140 0002 8580 9188 to the address on file with the Commission.
12 The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing, dated March 26, 2009, and signed by Victoria Chamberlain,
13 Executive Director, stated:
14 "You, Jared James Westover, are entitled to a hearing on the proposed action of the
15 Commission. If you want a hearing, you must file a written request for a hearing with
16 the Commission within 21 days of the date of this notice. Attached to this notice is a
17 copy of the procedures, right of representation and other rights of parties relating to the
18 conduct of a hearing as required under ORS 183.413(2)."
2: Certified Mail receipts show that Westover received the notice on March 27, 2009. Mr.
21 Westover did not request a hearing. The Commission, therefore, finds Mr. Westover to be in
22 default and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law and order, based on the
23 files and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
24 FINDINGS OF FACT
25 1. Westover worked for the Hermiston School District during the 2007-08 school year. While working
26 for the district, Westover maintained an inappropriate relationship with a female high school student.
27 The relationship included going to the park alone with the student; holding hands and having
28 romantic conversations. Westover also sent the student text messages of a romantic nature, and
29 pictures of himself.
30 2. Westover did not report his relationship with the female student or any of the romantic feelings that
31 the student had for him to a supervisor.
32 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
PAGE 1 — DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF LICENSE — WESTOVER, JARED

1 Westover’s inappropriate relationship with a female student in the Hermiston School District
2 constitutes gross neglect of duty in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o)

3 (Substantial deviation from professional standards of ethics) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-

4 0035(1)(c)(A), (B) or (D) (Expressing professionally inappropriate interest in students personal life),
5 (Not accepting or giving overly personal gifts or notes with a student), (Honoring appropriate adult

6 boundaries with students inconduct and conversations at all times). Westover’s failure to report his
7 relationship with the female student or the student’s feelings toward him, constitutes gross neglect of
B duty in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(o) (Substantial deviation from

9 professional standards of ethics) as it incorporates OAR 584—020-0035(1)(c)(C), (Reporting to the
10 educator's supervisor if the educator has reason to believe a student is or may be becoming

11 romantically attached to the educator).

12 ORDER

13 The Commission adopts and incorporates herein the above findings of facts and conclusions
14 of law, and based thereon, hereby revokes the Initial I Teaching License of Jared James Westover.
15 IT IS SO ORDERED this {Z 0% day of May, 2009.

16 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

18 By

19 ictoria Cha ' , Executive Director
2(1) NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS'

2: YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY BE

24 OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE SERVICE OF

25 THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ORS 183.482 TO THE
26 OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.

PAGE 2 — DEFAULT ORDER OF REVOCATION OF LICENSE — WESTOVER, JARED

1 CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
2
3
4 l hereby certify that I served the foregoing order by mailing a true copy thereof certified by me
5 as such by U.S. First Class Mail to the Attorney of record for Jared James Westover:
6
7 Adam S. Arms
8 Attorney at Law
9 McKanna | Bishop | Joffe | & Arms| LLP
10 1635 NW Johnson Street
11 é Portland OR 97209
12 z
13 Dated this day of June, 2009.
14
15 . ‘
16
17 i By:
18 Melo Hanson, cutive Assistant
PAGE 1 - CERTIFICATE OF MAILING — JARED JAMES WESTOVER