Board reports multiple license revocations and disciplinary orders adopted in closed session

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board announced on the public record May 15 that it adopted findings of fact, conclusions of law and final orders in multiple contested matters during a closed-session deliberation.

Chair Lucy Payne said the Board adopted orders revoking the teaching licenses of Khaled Mutar Aluwali, Ruben Aponte and Jonathan Zollmer; denied the renewal application of James Hanse; accepted the voluntary surrender of Sarah Johnson's teaching licenses; imposed a one-year state suspension on Jennifer McMackin's license; and suspended Desiree Richardson's licenses. The Board said written orders will be mailed to the parties.

David Cullen, assistant attorney general appearing for the Educator Ethics Committee, had summarized the committee's position during oral argument and told the Board that in both the Aponte and Aluwali matters the ALJ had issued reports finding the licensees in default after they did not appear, and that the ALJ deemed the committee's allegations proved by operation of law. "Because of licensee's failure to appear, the ALJ issued a report finding the licensee in default and therefore deeming by operation of law the allegations in the committee's notice in order for hearing to be true and proven," Cullen stated during argument.

The Board's advising attorney read instructions reminding members their decisions must be based exclusively on the hearing record; the Board then moved to closed session to deliberate and voted to adopt the orders. Chair Payne said the parties will be notified by mail of the Board's final written orders.

The Board did not discuss detailed reasoning for each case on the public record beyond announcing the orders; the transcript indicates the Board relied on the hearing record and the ALJ reports in reaching its decisions. The Board's legal staff will finalize and mail written orders to the affected licensees, and the public record will reflect those final orders once served.