The teaching license of the West High choir teacher who led students in harassing a craft store owner last year was revoked Tuesday by the State Board of Education.
The Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission recommended revoking Richard Torgerson's license by default, following several unsuccessful attempts to contact Torgerson individually and through his attorney.Torgerson was suspended last spring for the rest of the school year after he led students in a "sing-in" at the craft store during school hours. The teacher of 25 years, who apparently had an ongoing dispute with the store owner, later resigned.
Torgerson was charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, class C misdemeanors, in connection with the sing-in.
He earlier had been targeted in a federal lawsuit filed by a Jewish student alleging he pushed his LDS faith in class through religious songs. The lawsuit died in the U.S. Supreme Court.
The state school board also revoked or suspended the licenses of five other teachers.
Thomas R. Phelon, a former teacher at Pleasant Grove High School in Alpine, had his license revoked by default. The professional practices commission reported he had accessed pornography on a school computer during school.
Gary M. Smith, a former educator at Central Middle School in Ogden, surrendered his license for revocation in lieu of a hearing, the commission reported. He was accused of accessing inappropriate and sexually explicit Internet sites on school equipment and during school hours.
Eric Jensen Zobell, a former teacher at American Fork Junior High in Alpine, also had his license revoked by default. He had been charged with two misdemeanor drug offenses and was accused of storing pornographic images on his school computer and throwing firecrackers out school windows at students, the commission reported.
Gregory Neil Shreeve, a former Davis School District coach/paraprofessional, surrendered his teaching license in lieu of a hearing for at least one year's suspension, the commission reported. The action was based on intimate and inappropriate activities with an adult female student, the commission reported.
Carey Lee Naylor, a former North Sanpete Middle School teacher, surrendered his license in lieu of a hearing for at least an 18-month suspension, the commission reported. The action was based on unprofessional conduct, including Naylor exposing himself to female students walking home from school, the commission reported.