l BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3

4 In the Matter of the ) DEFAULT ORDER OF DENIAL

5 Educator License of ) APPLICATION AND REVOCATION

6 ) OF RIGHT TO APPLY FOR AN

7 MATTHEW M. WOODFORD ) EDUCATOR LICENSE

8

9
10 On December 19, 2017, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
11 (Commission) issued a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Matthew M. Woodford
12 (Woodford) in which the Commission charged him with Gross Neglect of Duty and
13 Gross Unfitness. The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail
14 Receipt 7017 0190 0000 6246 5206 to the address on file with the Commission. The
15 Notice designated the Commission file as the record for purposes of proving a prima
16 facie case. The Certified Mail was returned to the Commission signed on December 21,
17 2017. The regular first class mail was not returned to the Commission, and assumed
18 delivered. The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing, dated December 19, 2017, and signed
l9 by Trent Danowski, Co-Interim Executive Director, stated:
20 “IF A REQUEST FOR HEARING IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIS 60-DAY
21 PERIOD, YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING SHALL BE CONSIDERED WAIVED
22 UNLESS YOUR FAILURE TO REQUEST A HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR
23 REASONABLE CONTROL. IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING OR IF
24 YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT A HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN
25 ORDER OF DEFAULT WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR
26 SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE OR OTHER DISCIPLINE.”
27
28 Woodford did not request a hearing. The Commission, therefore, finds Woodford to be
29 in default and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final order,
30 based 0n the files and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
31
32 FINDINGS OF FACI'
33 1. Matthew M. Woodford has been licensed by the Commission since August 30, 2006.
34 Woodford’s Initial II Teaching License, with an endorsement in Music (ML/ HS;
35 ECE/ELE L), was valid from February 3, 2014, through February 2, 2017. On
36 January 27, 2017, Woodford made application for renewal of his license. Woodford’s
37 license and application were stayed, pending the outcome of this investigation.

PAGE 1-DEFAULT ORDER OF DENIAL OF APPLICATION AND REVOCATION 0F RIGHT T0 APPLY FOR AN
EDUCATOR LICENSE - MATTHEW M. WOODFORD

1 During all relevant times, Woodford was employed by the Springfield School
2 District.
3
4 2. On February 6, 2017, the Commission became aware that Woodford had been
5 arrested on February 4, 2017, for multiple charges of child sex abuse. The
6 Commission opened an investigation. On February 9, 2017, the Commission received
7 a report from the Springfield School District indicating Woodford was the subject of
8 an investigation related to the earlier reported criminal activity, including sexual
9 conduct with a student.
10
11 Subsequent school district, law enforcement, and Commission investigations
12 determined that on February 2, 2017, a student witnessed Woodford and a minor
13 aged, female student kissing in Woodford’s classroom. Law enforcement
14 investigation located evidence that Woodford and the student had participated in
15 “Sexting” by exchanging explicit sexual texting. Your sexting activities included
16 Woodford and the student exchanging nude digital images and video of each other
17 by cell phone. The student reported kissing Woodford on multiple occasions and that
18 Woodford had fondled her breasts and buttocks, both inside and outside her
19 clothing.
20
21 3. On February 15, 2017, Woodford was charged by the Lane County Grand Jury with
22 one felony count of Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree (ORS
23 163.433), five felony counts of Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct
24 (ORS 163.670), five felony counts of Luring a Minor (ORS 167.057) and three
25 misdemeanor counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (ORS 163.425). On July
26 6, 2017, as part of a plea agreement, Woodford was convicted on one count of Using
27 a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct (ORS 163.670), and one count of
28 Luring a Minor (ORS 167.057). Woodford was sentenced in part, to a total of
29 approximately 70 months in prison, 36 months 0f post-prison supervision, and
30 required to register as a sex offender.
3 1
PAGE 2-DEFAULT ORDER OF DENIAL OF APPLICATION AND REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY FOR AN
EDUCATOR LICENSE - MATTHEW M. WOODFORD

1 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
2 Matthew Woodford’s criminal convictions constitute gross neglect of duty in
3 violation of ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-O2o-oo4o(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-
4 020-0010(5) (Use professional judgment); and OAR 584-020-0040(1) (The
5 Commission will deny, revoke or deny the right t0 apply for a license or charter school
6 registration to any applicant 0r educator who, has been convicted of any of the crimes
7 listed in ORS 342.143, or the substantial equivalent of any of those crimes if convicted
8 in another jurisdiction), including ORS 163.670 — Using a Child in a Display of
9 Sexually Explicit Conduct, and ORS 167.057 — Luring a Minor. This conduct also
10 constitutes gross unfitness in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(c); OAR 584-020-004o(5)(c)
11 (Conviction of violating any federal, state, 0r local law. A conviction includes any final
12 judgment of conviction by a court whether as the result of guilty plea, no contest plea
13 or any other means); OAR 584-020-0040(5)(d) (Commission of an act listed in OAR
l4 584-020-0040(1)); and OAR 584-020-0040(5)(e) (Admission of or engaging in acts
15 constituting criminal conduct, even in the absence of a conviction).
16
17 Pursuant to ORS 342.175(3) and OAR 584-020-0040(1) the Teacher Standards
18 and Practices Commission must revoke Woodford’s license and Woodford’s right to
19 apply for a license based on conviction of any of the crimes listed in ORS 342.143(3)(a),
20 or the substantial equivalent of any of those crimes.
21
22 Furthermore, the conduct underlying Woodford’s convictions constitutes gross
23 neglect of duty in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(n) as it
24 incorporates OAR 584-020-001o(5) (Use professional judgment); OAR 584-020-
25 0040(4)(k)( Violation of any rule or order of the Commission); OAR 584-020-
26 0040(4)(t) (Any sexual conduct with a student) as defined by OAR 584-020-0005(5);
27 OAR 584-o2o-oo4o(4)(0) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-0035(1)(c)(D) (Honoring
28 appropriate adult boundaries with students in conduct and conversations at all times);
29 and OAR 584-020-0035(3)(a)(Maintain the dignity of the profession by respecting and
30 obeying the law, exemplijying personal integrity and honesty). Additionally,
31 Woodford’s criminal convictions and conduct related to his convictions constitute “gross
32 unfitness” in violation of ORS 342.175(1)(c); OAR 584-020-oo4o(3)(c) and (d) as
PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF DENIAL OF APPLICATION AND REVOCATION OF RIGHT TO APPLY FOR AN
EDUCATOR LICENSE - MATTHEW M. WOODFORD

1 defined by OAR 584-020-0040 (5) (Gross unfitness is any conduct which renders an

2 educator unqualified to perform his or her professional responsibilities).

3

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

5 ORS 342.175.

6

7 FINAL ORDER

8 The Commission hereby denies Matthew M. Woodford’s application for an

9 Oregon educator license and revokes his right to apply for an Oregon educator license.
10 IT rs so ORDERED THIS g; "i day of March, 2018.
11 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
12
13 By: z ‘ %
14 Dr. Anthony Rosilez, Executive Director
15
l6
l7
18 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS
19
2O YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY
21 BE OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE
22 SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
23 ORS 183.482 TO THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.

PAGE 4-DEFAULT ORDER OF DENIAL OF APPLICATION AND REVOCATION OF RIGHT To APPLY FOR AN
EDUCATOR LICENSE - MATTHEW M. WOODFORD