State Professional Standards and Practices Board for TeachingMeeting Minutes
Date: January 17 & 18, 2007 |
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Members Present |
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Patrick Allen, co-chair |
Todd R. Feigenbaum |
Nicholas M. Michelli |
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MEMBERS ABSENT |
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Erik Bitterbaum |
Susan Mittler |
Frank Scelsa |
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STAFF PRESENT |
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Robert Bentley |
Nancy Taylor Baumes |
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JANUARY 17, 2007 |
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1. Call to Order |
Day One of the meeting was called to order by co-chair Eric Gidseg at 3:33p.m. |
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2. Announcements |
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3. Meeting Minutes |
Motion: That the minutes of the November 2006 meeting be approved. |
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4. Subcommittee Reports
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Professional Practices Subcommittee Higher Education Subcommittee |
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5. Executive Director’s Report |
Bob Bentley reported on the following:
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6. Part 83 Annual Report |
Debbie Marriott presented the Part 83 Annual Report (attached). |
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7. Meeting Calendar |
The Board selected the 2007-2008 meeting dates, but deferred voting to adopt the calendar until the March meeting due to the lack of a quorum. |
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8. Proposal for Endorsement of Out-of-State Certificates |
The Board discussed and suggested revisions to the position statement (drafted by Pat Allen and Allison Cugini) to the proposed regulatory amendment to establish endorsement of out-of-state certificates. |
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9. Adjournment |
The co-chair adjourned Day One of the meeting at 5:25 p.m. |
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JANUARY 18, 2006 |
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1. Call to Order |
Day Two of the meeting was called to order by co-chair Pat Allen at 8:12 a.m. |
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2. Research Review |
Nick Michelli, Susan Phillips, and Stephanie Leeds led a discussion of the paper “Induction Into Learning Communities”. |
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3. Legislative Education Visits |
The Board established priority areas for the March Legislative visits. Evie Rich, Lloyd Jaeger, Rosemary Harrigan, and Stephanie Leeds will develop the materials with input and comment from members. |
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4. Agenda Setting |
Members suggested the following items for the March agenda:
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5. Adjournment |
The co-chair adjourned Day Two of the meeting at 11:28 p.m. |
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Attachment
Adopted March 22, 2007
New York State Education Department
Office of Teaching Initiatives
Professional Standards and Practices Board
Professional Practices Subcommittee
Annual Report
January 2007
Deborah A. Marriott
Associate Attorney
New York State Education Department
Office of School Personnel review and Accountability
PSPB Board Year 2001-2002
through 2005-2006
A Five-Year Analysis
Over the past five years, there has been a tremendous growth in the number brought to the subcommittee for consideration of whether the individual has the requisite moral character to possess a teacher or administrator certificate in New York State. This report will provide a five-year analysis of the number of cases considered; the types of cases considered; and the outcomes of these cases.
PSPB Board Year

Total Number of cases: 485
Subcommittee Activity

Total Number of Complaints*
(Six-month total)
Complaint Source |
Number of Complaints |
Teacher Moral Character Application |
921 |
Fingerprinting (DCJS) |
469 |
Fingerprinting (FBI) |
164 |
Subsequent Arrest |
544 |
Public |
145 |
School District |
92 |
Teacher Tenure |
65 |
NASDTEC |
33 |
Total |
2433 |
Case Type Breakdown
The types of behavior that can constitute a substantial question of moral character are wide and varied, however, the following charts demonstrate that the vast majority of cases considered by OSPRA and the subcommittee involve inappropriate relationships and sex related incidents, and drug and alcohol problems.
Types of Non-Criminal Cases |
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Cert Fraud |
8 |
Corp Punishment |
2 |
Drugs Alcohol |
6 |
Inappropriate Relationship |
90 |
Other |
8 |
Porn |
12 |
School Theft |
7 |
Sex Harassment |
15 |
Test Fraud |
12 |
Verbal Abuse |
2 |
Total |
162 |
Types of Criminal Cases |
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Arson |
1 |
Assault |
8 |
Child Porn |
25 |
Disorderly Con |
3 |
Drugs |
66 |
DWI |
9 |
Endangering |
27 |
Exposure/Lewdness |
14 |
Forgery |
5 |
Harassment |
6 |
Larceny |
30 |
Manslaughter |
5 |
Other Felony |
23 |
Other Misdemeanor |
10 |
Robbery |
8 |
Sex - Adult Victim |
4 |
Sex - Child Victim |
78 |
Total |
321 |
Case Outcomes