Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Votes to Retain Language
April 2007

During the April 2007 meeting, the Professional teaching Practices Commission unanimously voted to retain language as is in the current policy statement of breach of contract procedure C.  The current policy statement stands.  All educators should be aware of possible sanctions against their certificate described as follows:

I.  PROCEDURES OF PTPC ON BREACH OF CONTRACT DUE TO UNILATERAL TERMINATION BY AN EMPLOYEE:

A.  An educator under contract with a school district who fails to give written notice of intent to terminate the contract, or who leaves the position following such notice without having the written assent of the employer, shall be deemed to have breached the contract and may be subject to disciplinary action including possible revocation of certificates by the PTPC.

B.  If the unilateral termination of the educator occurs more than 30 days prior to the educator's first duty day, and there are insufficient mitigating circumstances, the PTPC will issue a warning to the educator that the action is unprofessional and is on record with the PTPC.

C.  If the unilateral termination by the educator occurs 30 days prior to the educator's first day of work, or any time thereafter, the PTPC has adjudged that such a violation is serious enough that a sanction against the certificate will be considered.

The following mitigating circumstances will be taken into account when determining a sanction:

1.  Extenuating circumstances that gave rise to resignation request, such a family or health consideration.

2. Attempts to reach an accommodation with the employer or otherwise ameliorate the plight of the employer.

3. A misrepresentation of the conditions of employment or working conditions by the employer.