The American historian Henry Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” It can be hard to tell where a teacher’s responsibility ends, too. In many ways, teachers are never off duty. Even though the school day has finished, they can never wholly escape the responsibility of their profession.
Many a great teacher has been lost due to matters outside the classroom. If you receive a call from California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), it can be a worrying time for you, the school, the parents and pupils. After all, good teachers are hard to come by.
If found guilty of certain charges, the licensing board will automatically revoke your license. These include:
- Sex crimes
- Drugs crimes
- Certain violent crimes
Less severe charges can also result in a challenge to your teaching license. For example, teachers have been disciplined for DUI offenses. The CTC will decide based on what you are accused of doing, when it happened and how it affects your ability to teach. They will also look at how you complied with any sanctions you received and any rehabilitation you undertook.
Disciplinary actions the CTC could take include:
- Private admonition: A written warning seen only by you and your employer
- Public reproval: A warning made public
- Suspension: You have your license withdrawn for a set amount of time
- Revocation: You lose your license, although you can apply to have it reinstated after a year
Seek legal help if you need to defend your California teaching credential. An error in your private life should not necessarily affect your professional life.