One teacher's certificate was reinstated and those of four others were revoked or suspended last week by the Utah Board of Education, following recommendations from the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission.
The teaching certificate of Robert I. Nakai, a former teacher at San Juan High School and the Indian Education Office for the San Juan School District, was reinstated after a hearing, the commission reported.Nakai, whose certification was suspended in 1977, now must take courses to renew his certificate. The reason for his license suspension was not disclosed.
Charles D. Hatch, a former teacher at Bear River City Elementary who left the Box Elder School District more than five years ago, has surrendered his teaching certificate in lieu of a hearing. The state school board revoked the certificate as a result of "inappropriate and unprofessional conduct while he was employed as a teacher," the commission reported.
The teaching certificate of John C. Aswad, a former Meadowlark Elementary schoolteacher in the Salt Lake City School District, was suspended for the same reported reason after he surrendered the certificate in lieu of a hearing.
The teaching certificate of A. Blaine Pierce, a former teacher at Davis Elementary in the Uintah School District, has been revoked by default, as he did not appear at a hearing or respond to allegations of abuse and theft of prescription drugs, the commission reported.
Barry L. Robertson's teaching certificate also was revoked by default. The former Pleasant Grove Junior High teacher in the Alpine School District did not explain allegations that he participated in an "inappropriate and unprofessional" relationship with a student, the commission reported.