Arizona Educator Misconduct Investigation Leads to 20-year Prison Sentence

An Arizona educator was recently sent to prison for 20 years after she was found guilty of sexual misconduct. Brittany Zamora, aged 28, had been accused of educator misconduct by sexually harassing a 13-year-old, attempting to molest the minor, and public sexual indecency. 

Evidence showed that Ms. Zamora had sexual encounters with the student in various places, including her car and the classroom. At some point, sexual harassment occurred in front of other students.

The case brings into the limelight the nature of Arizona educator misconduct investigation proceedings and the different types of teacher misconduct. 

As an Arizona educator, you will want to know that teachers fall in the “position of trust” category. Parents, coaches, step-parents, and clergy also comprise this group. 

It is also vital to add that Arizona educators have been investigated for sexual harassment more than any other type of misconduct. Statistics indicate that 40 teachers are investigated and disciplined annually for sexual misconduct, with the Arizona State Board of Education frequently revoking teaching certificates.

However, it is possible to win your teacher misconduct case by working with a teacher license defense attorney.

Why Having an Arizona Teacher License Defense Attorney | Education Licensing Lawyer Is Vital

Educator liability is a crucial area of concern for all Arizona teachers. Although most cases are never as widely publicized and severe as Brittany Zamora’s, Arizona teacher misconduct rules are wide-reaching, meaning that you can be investigated for many issues. 

As someone in a position of trust, your life is open wide for all to see. However, you may first need to understand the examples of Arizona teacher misconduct before knowing whether your rights are being violated.

An Arizona teacher license defense attorney/education licensing lawyer can guide you through this process.

Teacher Misconduct in Arizona

Teacher misconducts occur in different ways depending on the severity and harm to students. The issues often discussed in educator policies revolve around physical, racial, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse of students in ways that cause direct or indirect harm. Teachers who follow the rules and guidelines in these school district policy handbooks are less likely to be investigated for misconduct.

It is vital to add that misconduct can relate to acts considered dangerous to the education profession. For example, the Arizona State Board of Education can view fabricating professional documentation, driving when drunk, cheating in an exam, committing assault, and committing a severe crime as educator misconduct.

Nevertheless, misconduct will mostly occur and be investigated on campus or when interacting with school community members.

In addition, it is always good to remain conscious of interactions involving stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds to avoid misunderstandings.

Teacher Misconduct Investigations: How Are They Conducted?

The Reporting of Educator Misconduct

When there is a potential teacher immoral or improper conduct case in Arizona, the complaints are first forwarded to the investigative unit of the Arizona State Board of Education. 

It is important to note that based on the HB 2023 Implementation Notice of September 2022, the Board can listen to cases involving certified and non-certificated educators. Formal complaints, such as those involving sexual harassment, are prepared under the Office of the Attorney General. The educator is prosecuted under the law, and sanctions become permanent records.

In non-formal cases, the Board takes charge based on Arizona Administrative Code (AAC), Title 7, Chapter 2, Articles 7 and 13. Again, if you are a non-certified educator, the Board can still investigate you and take disciplinary action.

Potential punishments for certified teachers are issuing a letter of censure, suspension, suspension with conditions, or certificate revocation. 

You can read more here:

• What are Possible Disciplinary Actions for Arizona Teachers?

The Investigations of Educator Misconduct

The Professionals Practices Advisory Committee (PPAC) investigates teacher misconduct cases in Arizona. The committee functions under the Arizona State Board of Education and listens to cases where educators are accused of immoral or improper conduct. There are nine members on the committee. 

Suppose you are summoned to face the PPAC for misconduct. You would present your case and then wait for findings of fact, conclusions based on the law, and any decision on whether to impose discipline. 

When you work with a license-defense attorney during a PPAC hearing, the representing counsel can present their findings of fact and conclusions based on the law to the committee. 

For example, through the findings of fact, the lawyer will explore each case point based on their comprehension of legal guidelines and the aggravating and mitigating factors privy to your case. 

When making conclusions based on the law, they will cite administrative codes or statutes regarding the Arizona State Board of Education’s capacity to make disciplinary recommendations. 

Recommendations and Outcomes

The Board then makes recommendations based on findings from the PPAC hearings. It is at this juncture that you know your fate. The Arizona State Board of Education can accept, reject, or amend the initial ruling.

If you wish to go further, you can contest the outcomes with your representing counsel.

Working with Chelle Law Attorneys

It has been shown in this guide that Arizona educators are often scrutinized for misconduct. Parents, guardians, and educational administrators will always watch what you do on and off campus. We want you to know that you always have a fighting chance if you work with a qualified teacher license defense attorney. 

At Chelle Law Attorneys, the team is always ready to help you maneuver your Arizona educator misconduct investigation. Whether someone accused you of immoral or improper conduct, we can help you understand the facts of the case and prepare for your Board hearing. 

In addition, if you are undergoing some misconduct investigations, allow us to take charge by contacting us and giving us the green light to do what we know best.

Other Blogs of Interest

• What Happens When a Teacher is Under Investigation in Arizona?
• Arizona Teacher Abuse Investigations Explained
• How Long Does a School Investigation Take in Arizona?

Arizona Teacher Sexual Relationship with a Student

What are the issues if there’s ever an allegation of a teacher having a relationship of sexual nature with a student? 

So, the school would likely start there. If the school found a credible allegation of a sexual relationship, they’d probably immediately put the educator on administrative leave. If not, ask for the resignation or terminate them immediately. 

And when I say sexual relationship, I also include sexual abuse. So, these are very serious. 

Sexual Relationship or Sexual Abuse with a Minor

The school is a mandated reporter, so they likely immediately report this to local authorities or police. Also, police will be investigating this because it is a crime. The department of child services may investigate as well.

Furthermore, they’ll report you to the State Board of Education. They’ll conduct their investigation if they think there’s a finding of any relationship of sexual nature or abuse with a minor. It can mean communications, physical, social media, etc. It is more of a broad term.

You want to be very careful to understand that. It is taken very seriously, of course, by all those administrative agencies. There would likely be a hearing at the state board level unless you decided or agreed to revoke your license.

If not, they would conduct an administrative hearing with the Professional Practices Advisory Committee.

Teacher License Revocation 

They would make a finding of fact and conclusions of law if they did think there was a finding that there’s a relationship of sexual nature or abuse.

According to the State Board of Education guidelines, they would revoke the educator’s license if there was any relationship or abuse. It’s serious because the offense is severe. And so, that’s where it would usually go.

The Professional Practices Advisory Committee would then take their findings to the State Board of Education. And they would likely either affirm, deny, or amend their conclusions. Again, you may attend an administrative hearing at the state level if you disagree with the discipline.

Victim, Parents, and Staff Interview

At the school level, people would likely ask you to resign or terminate you. The investigation starts at the school level and would involve an interview with the victim or all the students involved. Maybe the alleged victim’s parents, family, and staff. They would go through communications that you allegedly had with the victim. And they might even look at video or audio evidence.

Examples of Arizona Teacher Misconduct

What are the different types of teacher misconduct within the state of Arizona?

I’m mainly speaking about educators K-12 and the public school setting here in Arizona, also charter schools in some private schools. So, what is teacher misconduct? 

The easiest way to define teacher misconduct is to have you look at your employment contract. Sometimes it specifies it there. Any teacher handbook or policies within your school will likely spell out every scenario you can. They can’t deal with students, staff, and parents outside of school. And so, if you follow those policies and understand them clearly. They will not likely consider you to have done anything that would be misconduct.

Again, start with your employment contract, handbook, or anything the school committee provided you that explains it. You also can look at the State Board of Education here in Arizona. They have regulations on what is unprofessional conduct, what is misconduct, and what you can and can’t do with students. And the list goes on from there. So, those are the first two places to look for examples. 

Misconduct would also be anything that threatens the health and safety of the students. That’s the school’s number one priority, as it should be. 

And so, anything that threatens their safety or security is misconduct. Any of the following: 

• Physical
•  Mental
•  Emotional
•  Sexual abuse

Anything like that. That’s misconduct.

Look at School Policy For Misconduct Information

It gets confusing when there are interactions with parents about students’ cultural differences. The area might get a little gray. Again, look at the school’s policies to see if they have guidelines on this type of communication or actions and if that falls within the misconduct range. 

Another thing teachers forget to consider is that misconduct can also be with other staff. Examples of that may be different types of verbal interactions. It could be sexual harassment. Those are forms of misconduct. 

And even further, a teacher’s actions outside of school can also be misconduct. And what I mean by that is the most common examples I would say probably are a DUI, domestic violence, and arrest assault. The list goes on from there. 

But suppose you’re committing severe crimes or arrested outside the classroom, even on time. In that case, it’s still misconduct. So, you want to be careful. I know it’s hard being an educator. You always want to do your best, but you want to ensure you’re familiar. 

Advantages of Being Familiar With School Policies

I keep saying this, but be familiar with all the school’s policies on what you can and can’t do in the classroom. That way, there are no surprises. Suppose a school thinks you have done something classified as misconduct. Then, they’re likely to open an investigation. They’ll give you notice of this. And then you’re likely put on administrative leave. It can be paid or unpaid. Then, the school will investigate whether this misconduct affects student safety or security.

If they find that it rose to the level of misconduct, they may ask you to resign as a teacher. It may terminate you. It may wait until the end of the school year; they may do it immediately. It depends. There’s a scale. 

Also, schools act as mandated reporters, so especially if it’s anything about a student, they are very likely to report you to the State Board of Education. So, there may be an investigation for your license. Local authorities, like local police departments, may open an investigation. The department of child services may also be notified and start to investigate. Again, misconduct is a scale. There are mitigating circumstances around it. 

Call an Attorney for More Information

So, you want to be very careful handling it if there are any misconduct allegations. I always recommend advising an attorney. Suppose you do not have one to represent you during the whole process with the school committee. Then, protect yourself, and know your rights and what you can and can’t do.

Can Arizona Teachers Be Disciplined for Social Media?

Can a teacher receive discipline for social media? It is a great question; I would say it’s relevant currently.

First, let’s start at the school level. Suppose a teacher, and I’m talking about public education, charter schools K-12. When you become employed with your school, they typically hand you a policy handbook. I’d say 99% of schools will have a policy on social media. And it will state what you can and can’t do and who you can and can’t communicate with.

From my experience, it’s expected that you can’t identify any students. Sometimes schools and policies talk about who you can and cannot communicate with through social media. If you are communicating with students, sometimes that’s just a violation of the policy. Therefore you’re likely to be disciplined by your school.

State Board of Education Disciplinary Actions

It may mean they place you on administrative leave and terminate you. But all those things are disciplines that the school could hand down. This discipline is just for communication. Again, read your policy carefully to stay within the school’s lines. 

However, if there’s any inappropriate communication with students, it will be considered immoral or unprofessional conduct. The school will probably have to take it even further. School districts are mandated reporters. That said, if there’s any reasonable accusation, they can go ahead and report you to the State Board of Education.

They may investigate your license, especially if it’s emotional or discussing physical or sexual abuse. They will report you to the police or local law enforcement agency, and the child protective services. So, it’s serious. But this is all talking about communication directly with the students. 

If you’re posting something online, maybe you appear impaired by drugs or alcohol. If it seems that you’re at work, that’s immoral, unprofessional conduct. And again, they will report you to the Board of Education and open an investigation. 

State Guidelines

It depends on the circumstances. But if the school finds anything they are mandated to report, that will automatically happen at the state board level. They may open an investigation and always refer to that student handbook if there is communication. 

At the state level, they’re going to look and see if this will be considered immoral or unprofessional conduct. Does your interaction or post reasonable that you did endanger students’ health or safety, or well-being? If yes, they will likely discipline you at the state board level.

They have guidelines for the discipline they may hand out, anywhere from a letter of censure to suspension or suspension with conditions. There’s also revocation, which means they will revoke your license. So, it is serious. Currently, there is some talk of guidelines for social media at the Board of Education at the state level. But there are no current regulations. 

Though again, unprofessional or immoral conduct is a catchall. It’s a very general phrase. And if the board feels like you are endangering a minor’s health, safety, or well-being, in any way. Then it is likely that they will open an investigation, and there could be potential discipline. 

So, you want to be careful on your social media. Check your school’s policy because it will comply with the State Board of Education, or it will likely. If you follow that, then you should be okay. Still, watch everything you post and ensure it’s not harming your students.

Arizona Reporting of Teacher Criminal Convictions

What are the criminal reporting requirements for teachers in Arizona? 

If a teacher in Arizona holds a license who teaches at a public, private, or charter school—I’m speaking to grades K-12. Suppose you teach any of those grades and receive a conviction of criminal charges. In that case, the court will report your conviction to the State Board of Education. 

They’ll hand over any of their findings of: 

• Facts
• Conclusions of law
• Evidence
• Anything that led up to your conviction

It is a requirement by Arizona Revised Statute 13-3990.

Educators Background Check Laws in Teaching

The court clerk will hand over those documents to the State Board of Education for any conviction. So, this is important to remember as an educator. Suppose this happens, and they pass it to the State Board of Education. In that case, it may be an act of unprofessional or immoral conduct. 

That is especially anything having to do with a minor:

• If they’re a victim of the crime 
•  They get into danger, or any child or violent substance abuse 

All of which would likely go under investigation by the State Board of Education.

It’s essential to report it yourself, but know that if there’s a conviction in Arizona, the court will send it directly to the State Board of Education. 

Suppose you receive a sentence for a criminal act outside of the state. Then, you should look at those state laws and do some research, but you’ll likely have to self-report anyway. So, keep that in mind in the future. 

Also, as I said, if the State Board of Education considers it potentially unprofessional or immoral, they’ll open an investigation. There are discipline guidelines for bad or unprofessional conduct. You can negotiate a settlement and agree on the discipline, the findings of facts, and the conclusions of the law. Or if you decide you want to take it to a hearing with the Professional Practices Advisory Committee. 

So, the takeaway from all these things is getting a conviction for a criminal act within Arizona. The court will forward all that information to the State Board of Education. An investigation will likely proceed with those findings.