One of the great ironies about the education industry surrounds how little attention is given to screening educators. The irony lies in the fact that teachers and their aids have an enormous amount of exposure to those who arguably need the most protection: children. School districts often do only the minimum required to conduct background checks and verify past employment. Unfortunately, unsavory details including criminal records, sexual harassment complaints and other crimes frequently slip through the cracks.
On February 27th, 2007, an investigative report from a TV news team in Pennsylvania uncovered a startling case. Police had been looking for a woman who had been charged with criminal conduct that included stalking, harassment and vandalism. After she ignored her court hearing, an arrest warrant was issued. The news team eventually found her: she was working in a preschool classroom. These types of cases are more common than many people realize. [Read more...]
Tags: Education for Students
